Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of Tamarindus indica pulp extract from Brazil

Nutraceutical compounds contribute to prevention and treatment of disease, especially cancer. The anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids, vitamin C and phenolic total compounds were quantified of tamarind pulp from Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) and Sao Paulo (SP)-Brazil. The antioxidant activity by the DPPH radical scavenging assay and the cytotoxic activity against the liver tumor cells of Rattus norvegicus were determined. The values of anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids and vitamin C (mg 100 g(-1)) for tamarind MS and SP were respectively: 4.22 +/- 0.10 e 4.53 +/- 0.18; 4.90 +/- 0.13 e 5.19 +/- 0.20; 62.31 +/- 1.41; 58.92 +/- 0.21. The antioxidant activity and the amount of total phenolic were greatly influenced by the place of cultivation and the type of solvent used in the extraction. Total phenolics content range from 104.77 +/- 1.21 to 255.72 +/- 3.70 mg GAE 100 g(-1) of fresh weight. The largest amount extracted was obtained with the hydroethanolic 70:30 solvent from tamarind MS. The hydromethanolic 70:30-MS extract showed 93.99 +/- 0.20 % free radical scavenging. This extract shows cytotoxic activity against tumor cells at all concentrations evaluated up to 48 h. The pulp of tamarind from MS is a promising source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and cytotoxic/antiproliferative activities.

Automated summary

Nutraceutical compounds in tamarind pulp, such as anthocyanins, yellow flavonoids, and vitamin C, have been found to contribute to antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The antioxidant activity and total phenolics content of the extracts were greatly influenced by the cultivation location and extraction solvents. The tamarind pulp from Mato Grosso do Sul showed promising potential as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and cytotoxic/antiproliferative properties.