Toxicological safety, antioxidant effect, and chemoprotection determination of an extract from the babassu mesocarp ( Mart.) in preclinical studies.

Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in chronic diseases and aging by initiating protein oxidation, impaired cellular membrane damage and functions, and induction of DNA mutations. When endogenous antioxidants are insufficient to counteract oxidant stress, bioactive compounds might serve as physiological therapeutic agents attributed to their ability to neutralize ROS. The aim of this study was to examine the antioxidant, chemoprotective and toxicological aspects of the hydroethanolic extract from Mart. mesocarp using and bioassays. The extract presented 9.9 mg/g of total flavonoids, primarily catechin and epicatechin. This extract exhibited no apparent toxicity upon (LC > 1000 μg/ml) or larvae (LD > 3000 mg/kg), low hemolysis, genotoxicity, or mutagenicity utilizing cells. Cytotoxicity effects were observed on in L-929 murine fibroblast only at concentrations above 130 μg/ml. This extract effectively neutralized free radicals [DPPH (EC 25.3 μg/ml) and ABTS (EC 52.6 μg/ml)] and reduced HOinitiated effects on . The chemoprotective activity of this extract was also noted in , L-929 cells, and as evidenced from oxidative damage and toxicity tests results. This constitutes the first report describing the toxicological safety profile of a babassu mesocarp extract a rich source of flavonoids (catechin and epicatechin) with antioxidant and chemoprotective activities.