Evaluation of the antioxidant and antiglycation potentials of fractions from the Capsicum chinense fruits hydroethanolic extract using in vitro model systems of glycoxidation

• Grant number: 25/17521-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Amanda Martins Baviera
• Grantee: Eduardo Paschoalino
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by deficiency in the insulin production by pancreatic beta cells and/or by resistance of target tissues to the actions of this hormone. Chronic hyperglycemia is considered one of the main causes of the establishment and maintenance of microvascular and macrovascular diabetic complications, which are directly related to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Protein glycation involves a series of complex reactions, which begins with the reaction between a reducing sugar and a primary amino group in proteins, resulting in the formation of AGEs. Through the exacerbated generation of reactive oxygen species, dicarbonyl compounds, formation of protein crosslink and interactions with cellular receptors, AGEs promote oxidative stress, carbonyl stress, changes in cellular functions and increased expression of inflammatory mediators. Thus, inhibition of events triggered by AGEs may represent an interesting strategy for the development of complementary therapies to the conventional treatment of DM. The biquinho pepper (Capsicum chinense) has several compounds, mainly phenolic compounds and capsaicin. It has been shown that capsaicin is capable of reducing AGE levels, which highlights the importance of continuing studies on its potential benefits for diabetic individuals, as well as on plant species that have this bioactive. The objective of this project is to evaluate the antioxidant and antiglycation potential of the ethyl acetate, methanolic and hexane fractions of the hydroethanolic extract of Capsicum chinense using an in vitro model system of protein glycation, with the incubation of bovine serum albumin with glucose (30 days) or with methylglyoxal (8 days) and temporal evaluation of the generation of AGEs, oxidative modifications in BSA and formation of protein crosslink, as well as performing assays to study the antioxidant potential in vitro. (AU)