Bioactive potential and chemical profile of extracts of Psidium oligospermum Mart. ex DC. (Myrtaceae).

Abstract

Bioactive compounds from species of the genus Psidium have shown significant pharmacological properties, becoming promising alternatives for the development of therapeutic strategies for numerous pathologies. Psidium oligospermum Mart. Ex DC (Myrtaceae) is among species of this genus whose extracts have not been investigated in phytochemical or biological studies, making it a potential source of bioactive compounds. This objective of this study was to investigate properties bioactive of stem and leaf extracts of P. oligospermum using different solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol). Antimicrobial potential, antioxidant activity, and effects on cell viability were evaluated, as well as concentrations of total phenolics and flavonoids and other chemical parameters. The extracts inhibited Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus), Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella choleraesuis), and fungi (Candida albicans and Candida glabrata) by the disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods, with bactericidal activity for Gram-positive bacteria. The extracts showed antioxidant effects, with reductions of up to 84% in DPPH free radicals. The absence of toxicity in extracts obtained with ethanol and ethyl acetate was observed through hemolytic tests with sheep erythrocytes and viability tests using Artemia salina, whereas the hexane leaf extract showed moderate toxicity. The bioactivity of the extracts is related to the presence of different classes of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, triterpenoids, steroids, saponins, anthraquinones, phenols, and flavonoids. These findings provide important chemical and pharmacological information indicating that Psidium oligospermum is a promising source of compounds with therapeutic properties; however, further research using other evaluation techniques is needed.