TNF-α inhibition, antioxidant effects and chemical analysis of extracts and fraction from Brazilian guaraná seed powder

Food Chem. 2021 Sep 1:355:129563. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129563. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Abstract

Paullinia cupana Kunth., commonly named Guaraná, is a plant from Brazil used as stimulant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of extracts and tannins-rich and methylxanthines-free fraction from guaraná in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect in vitro. Extract 1 obtained good yields of tannins and methylxanthines and was used to identify a type-A procyanidin trimer by LC-ESI-MS. Fraction 4 was rich in tannins and absent of methylxanthines. The extracts and fraction exhibited strong capacity for scavenging DPPH radical with IC50 between 5.88 and 42.75-µg/mL and inhibited TNF-α release by LPS-activated THP-1 cells when compared with control cells and did not present toxicity to THP-1 cells. The fraction 4, rich in tannins, was highly active, with IC50 5.88 µg/mL by DPPH method and inhibited TNF-α release in 83.50% at 90 µg/mL. These results reinforced potential anti-inflammatory of guaraná and data for new therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Guaraná; Paullinia cupana; Proanthocyanidins; TNF-α.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / chemistry*
  • Brazil
  • Caffeine / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Reverse-Phase
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Paullinia / chemistry*
  • Paullinia / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / analysis
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Theobromine / chemistry
  • Theophylline / chemistry
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • guarana powder
  • Caffeine
  • Theophylline
  • Theobromine