Search Results (16)

Background/Objectives: Averrhoa carambola, or star fruit, is a shrub known for its medicinal properties, especially due to bioactive metabolites identified in its roots and fruit with anti-cancer activity. However, the biological effects of its leaves remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess the effects of ethanolic extract from A. carambola leaves on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype lacking specific therapy. Methods: Phytochemical analysis and HPLC profile and additional cell line evaluation employing MDA-MB-231 were carried out. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was rich in flavonoids, saponins, and steroids, demonstrating an antioxidant capacity of 45%. ¹H NMR analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, and glycoside-like compounds. Cell viability assays showed a concentration-dependent decrease in viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 20.89 μg/mL at 48 h. Clonogenic assays indicated significant inhibition of replicative immortality, with only 2.63% survival at 15 μg/mL. Migration, assessed through a wound healing assay, was reduced to 3.06% at 100 μg/mL, with only 16.23% of cells remaining attached. An additive effect was observed when combining lower concentrations of the extract with doxorubicin, indicating potential synergy. Conclusions: These results suggest that the ethanolic extract of A. carambola leaves contains metabolites with anti-cancer activity against TNBC cells, supporting further research into their bioactive compounds and therapeutic potential. Full article

Averrhoa carambola, a key tropical and subtropical economic tree in the Oxalidaceae family, is distinguished by its unique pentagram-shaped fruit. This study investigates the developmental processes shaping the polarity of A. carambola fruit and their underlying hormonal and genetic mechanisms. By analyzing the Y1, Y2, and Y3 developmental stages—defined by the fruit diameters of 3–4 mm, 4–6 mm, and 6–12 mm, respectively—we observed that both cell number and cell size contribute to fruit development. Our findings suggest that the characteristic pentagram shape is established before flowering and is maintained throughout development. A hormonal analysis revealed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) show differential distribution between the convex and concave regions of the fruit across the developmental stages, with IAA playing a crucial role in polar auxin transport and shaping fruit morphology. A transcriptomic analysis identified several key genes, including AcaGH3.8, AcaIAA20, AcaYAB2, AcaXTH6, AcaYAB3, and AcaEXP13, which potentially regulate fruit polarity and growth. This study advances our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms governing fruit shape, offering insights for improving fruit quality through targeted breeding strategies. Full article

The Cox and Merz rules are empirical correlations between the apparent viscosity of polymers with the effect of shear rate and the complex dynamic viscosity with the effect of frequency. In this study, the rheological properties of mayonnaise-type emulsions enriched with Averrhoa carambola extracts were investigated using small-amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) and steady shear flow. The results showed that the shear-thinning behavior of the samples was non-Newtonian with yield stress and had time-dependent characteristics, as evidenced by curves from non-oscillatory measurements. It was observed that the experimental data on the complex and apparent viscosity of the samples obeyed the Cox–Merz rule. Full article

Natural bioactive compounds play an important role in the prevention of various diseases. The exotic fruits Averrhoa carambola L. (star fruit), Cyphomandra betacea (tamarillo) and Myrciaria dubia (camu-camu) can be valuable sources of phytochemicals with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study has been to compare the antioxidant properties of these exotic fruits, the structure of polyphenolic compounds and the content of vitamin C and β-carotene. All the juices were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS assays) and the composition of phenolic compounds (TP and FBBB assays, total flavonoid content, total anthocyanins). In addition, HPLC assays were performed to analyse the content of phenolic acids, flavonoids, vitamin C and β-carotene. The results demonstrated that juice from the Myrciaria dubia fruit had the highest antioxidant capacity, which was 4.5-fold higher than that of juice from Averrhola carambola L., and nearly 7-fold higher than the antioxidant capacity of Cyphomandra betacea fruit juice. Additionally, juice from the camu-camu fruit had a 3- to 4-fold higher total polyphenol content (8290 ± 254 mg GAE L⁻¹) and a high level of vitamin C (8410.8 ± 16.9 mg AA kg⁻¹). In turn, tamarillo juice had a high content of total anthocyanins (5796 mg CGE L⁻¹) and phenolic acids (mostly chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid). Juice produced from carambola had a high content of total flavonoids (1345 mg CAE L⁻¹), and the composition of these compounds was dominated by flavanols (epicatechin). The research results justify the conclusion that fruits of Myrciaria dubia, Averrhoa carambola L., Cyphomandra betacea are rich sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties, and in the near future may serve as healthful food ingredients. Full article

Averrhoa carambola L. is reported for its anti-obese and anti-diabetic activities. The present study aimed to investigate its aqueous methanol leaf extract (CLL) in vivo anti-obese activity along with the isolation and identification of bioactive compounds and their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assessment. CLL improved all obesity complications and exhibited significant activity in an obese rat model. Fourteen compounds, including four flavone glycosides (1–4) and ten dihydrochalcone glycosides (5–12), were isolated and identified using spectroscopic techniques. New compounds identified in planta included (1) apigenin 6-C-(2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranoside)-7-O-β-D-quinovopyranoside, (8) phloretin 3′-C-(2-O-(E)-cinnamoyl-3-O-β-D-fucopyranosyl-4-O-acetyl)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-6′-O-β-D fucopyranosyl-(1/2)-α-L arabinofuranoside, (11a) phloretin3′-C-(2-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl-3-O-β-D-fucosyl-4-O-acetyl)-β-D-fucosyl-6′-O-(2-O-β-D-fucosyl)-α-L-arabinofuranoside, (11b) phloretin3′-C-(2-O-(Z)-p-coumaroyl-3-O-β-D-fucosyl-4-O-acetyl)-β-D-fucosyl-6′-O-(2-O-β-D-fucosyl)-α-L-arabinofuranoside. Carambolaside M (5), carambolaside Ia (6), carambolaside J (7), carambolaside I (9), carambolaside P (10a), carambolaside O (10b), and carambolaside Q (12), which are reported for the first time from A. carambola L. leaves, whereas luteolin 6-C-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-D-fucopyranoside (2), apigenin 6-C-β-D-galactopyranoside (3), and apigenin 6-C-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-L-fucopyranoside (4) are isolated for the first time from Family. Oxalidaceae. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity revealed the potential efficacy of flavone glycosides, viz., 1, 2, 3, and 4 as antidiabetic agents. In contrast, dihydrochalcone glycosides (5–11) showed weak activity, except for compound 12, which showed relatively strong activity. Full article

South Florida’s agricultural soils are traditionally low in organic matter (OM) and high in carbonate rock fragments. These calcareous soils are inherently nutrient-poor and require management for successful crop production. Sunn hemp (SH, Crotalaria juncea) and velvet bean (VB, Mucuna pruriens) are highly productive leguminous cover crops (CCs) that have shown potential to add large quantities of dry biomass to nutrient- and organic-matter-limited systems. This study focuses on intercropping these two CCs with young carambola (Averrhoa carambola) trees. The objective was to test the effectiveness of green manure crops in providing nutrients and supplementing traditional fertilizer regimes with a sustainable soil-building option. Typically, poultry manure (PM) is the standard fertilizer used in organic or sustainable production in the study area. As such, PM treatments and fallow were included for comparison. The treatments were fallow control (F), fallow with PM (FM), sunn hemp (SH), SH with PM (SHM), velvet bean (VB), and VB with PM (VBM). Sunn hemp and VB were grown for two summer growing seasons. At the end of each 90-day growing period, the CCs were terminated and left on the soil surface to decompose in a no-till fashion. The results suggest that SH treatments produced the greatest amount of dry biomass material ranging from 48 to 71% higher than VB over two growing seasons. As a result, SH CCs also accumulated significantly higher amounts of total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) within their dry biomass that was added to the soil. Sunn hemp, SHM, and FM treatments showed the greatest accumulation of soil OM, TC, and TN. Soil inorganic N (NH₄⁺ + NO₃⁻ + NO₂) fluctuated throughout the experiment. Our results indicate that generally, VB-treated soils had their highest available N around 2 months post termination, while SH-treated soils exhibited significantly higher N values at CC termination time. Sunn hemp + PM (SHM)treatments had highest soil N availability around 4 months after CC termination. Soil enzyme activity results indicate that at CC termination, SHM exhibited the highest levels of β-1-4- glucosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase among all treatments. Overall, SH, SHM, and FM treatments showed the greatest potential for supplementing soil nutrients and organic matter in a no-till fruit production setting. Full article

Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important pest in the neotropical region. It is considered a polyphagous insect, meaning it infests plants of different taxonomic families and readily colonizes new host plants. The change to new hosts can lead to diversification and the formation of host races. Previous studies investigating the effect of host plants on population structure and selection in Anastrepha obliqua have focused on the use of data from the mitochondrial DNA sequence and microsatellite markers of nuclear DNA, and there are no analyses at the genomic level. To better understand this issue, we used a pooled restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (pooled RAD-seq) approach to assess genomic differentiation and population structure across sympatric populations of Anastrepha obliqua that infest three host plants—Spondias purpurea (red mombin), Mangifera indica (mango) of the family Anacardiaceae and Averrhoa carambola (carambola) of the family Oxalidaceae—in sympatric populations of the species Anastrepha obliqua of Inter-Andean Valley of the Cauca River in southwestern Colombia. Our results show genomic differentiation of populations from carambola compared to mango and red mombin populations, but the genetic structure was mainly established by geography rather than by the host plant. On the other hand, we identified 54 SNPs in 23 sequences significantly associated with the use of the host plant. Of these 23 sequences, we identified 17 candidate genes and nine protein families, of which four protein families are involved in the nutrition of these flies. Future studies should investigate the adaptive processes undergone by phytophagous insects in the Neotropics, using fruit flies as a model and state-of-the-art molecular tools. Full article

Averrhoa carambola L. is a tropical tree with edible fruit that grows at different climatic conditions. Despite its nutritive value and reported health benefits, it is a controversial fruit owing to its rich oxalate content. The present study aimed at investigating aroma and nutrient primary metabolites distribution in A. carambola fruits grown in Indonesia, Malaysia (its endemic origin) versus Egypt, and at different ripening stages. Two techniques were employed to assess volatile and non-volatile metabolites including headspace solid-phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) joined with gas chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-MS post silylation, respectively. Twenty-four volatiles were detected, with esters amounting for the major class of volatiles in Egyptian fruit at ca. 66%, with methyl caproate as the major component, distinguishing it from other origins. In contrast, aldehydes predominated tropically grown fruits with the ether myristicin found exclusively in these. Primary metabolites profiling led to the identification of 117 metabolites viz. sugars, polyols and organic acids. Fructose (38–48%) and glucose (21–25%) predominated sugar compositions in ripe fruits, whereas sorbitol was the major sugar alcohol (2.4–10.5%) in ripe fruits as well. Oxalic acid, an anti-nutrient with potential health risks, was the major organic acid detected in all the studied fruits (1.7–2.7%), except the Malaysian one (0.07%). It increases upon fruit ripening, including considerable amounts of volatile oxalate esters detected via SPME, and which must not be omitted in total oxalate determinations for safety assessments. Full article

In this study, a simple and green hydrothermal treatment was performed to prepare nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) from Averrhoa carambola (AC) fruit extract as a carbon precursor and L-arginine (Arg) as a nitrogen dopant. The AC-NCDs were characterized by UV light, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and zeta potential analyzer. The AC-NCDs were spherical and the average diameter was estimated to be 6.67 nm. The AC-NCDs exhibited the maximum emission intensity at 446 nm with 360 nm excitation wavelength. The fluorescence quenching behavior of AC-NCDs after interacting with methyl orange (MO) dye was studied. The interaction of AC-NCDs and MO was achieved within 3 min and the fluorescence quenching was maintained to a fixed value even after 30 min. The linearity was obtained in the range of 1 to 25 μM MO with a 0.30 μM detection limit. Furthermore, the pH values affected the quenching behavior of the AC-NCDs/MO system where the interaction mechanisms were driven by the electrostatic interaction, π–π interaction, inner filter effect, and energy transfer. The pH 5 maintained higher quenching efficiency while other pH values slightly decreased the quenching efficiency. Incoming applications, the AC-NCDs can be used in various important fields, especially for environmental protection. Full article

The present study explored the antihyperlipidemic potential of a standardized methanolic extract of Averrhoa carambola (A. carambola) leaf (MEACL) in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. The standardized MEACL was orally administered at different doses (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) to HFD-induced hyperlipidemic rats for five weeks. Serum lipid profile, body weight changes, body mass index (BMI), daily food intake, relative organ weight, and histology of the liver were evaluated. In addition, the effect of MEACL on HMG-CoA reductase and pancreatic lipase activities as well as hepatic and fecal lipids was demonstrated. MEACL supplementation reduced serum lipids in HFD-fed rats in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological scores revealed that 1000 mg/kg MEACL restored the damage to liver tissue in hyperlipidemic rats. MEACL decreased the body mass index (BMI), atherogenic index, and hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides and increased fecal cholesterol and bile acids in HFD-fed rats. Also, MEACL ameliorated lipid peroxidation and improved antioxidant defenses in the liver of HFD-fed rats. Furthermore, HMG-CoA reductase and lipase were suppressed by MEACL. In conclusion, this study shows the potential effect of MEACL to ameliorate hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in HFD-fed rats. It prevented hepatic lipid accumulation and exerted an inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase and lipase. Full article

We studied 19 different tropical fruits traditionally consumed in the coastal lowlands of Ecuador to determine their chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) had the highest total phenolic, flavonoid, and total antioxidant capacity values, whereas guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.) had the highest vitamin C values. The main organic acids identified were lactic, citric, and acetic acids, and the highest amount of lactic acid was found in soursop fruits (Annona muricata L.), whereas Ecuadorian ivory palm (Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce) and guava fruits had the highest acetic acid content. Guava also had the highest citric acid content; the highest concentration of oxalic acid was found in carambola. In terms of sugar content, giant granadilla (Passiflora quadrangularis L.) had the highest values of glucose, and red mombin (Spondias mombin L.) had the largest values for fructose and guava for sucrose. Chili pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq) proved to be the main source of carotenoids, lutein, and β-carotene, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. The results here increase our knowledge regarding the composition of the main fruits consumed on the west coast of Ecuador to facilitate recommendations as potential sources of health-promoting compounds. Full article

The fruit of Averrhoa carambola L. (Oxalidaceae), commonly known as star fruit or carambola, is popular in tropical and subtropical regions. Carotenoid-derived components, mainly C₁₃- and C₁₅-norisoprenoids, contribute greatly to the flavor of star fruit. Previously reported norisoprenoids were tentatively identified by GC-MS analysis after enzymatic hydrolysis. To gain accurate information about glycosidically bound flavor precursors in star fruit, a phytochemical study was conducted, which led to the isolation of 16 carotenoid derivatives—One new C₁₃-norisoprenoid glucoside, (5R,6S,7E,9R)-5,6,9-trihydroxy-7-megastigmene 9-O-β-d-glucoside (1); one new C₁₅-norisoprenoid, (6S,7E,10S)-Δ^9,15-10-hydroxyabscisic alcohol (11); and 14 known ones, of which 12 were in glucoside form. The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and chemical reaction. Compound 11 was a rare C₁₅-norisoprenoid with a double bond between C-9 and C-15, and its possible biogenetic pathway was proposed. The known compounds were identified by comparison of their mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data with those reported in the literature. The structure identification of one new (1) and seven known (3–7, 9, and 10) C₁₃-norisoprenoid glucosides from the genus Averrhoa for the first time enriches the knowledge of carotenoid-derived flavor precursors in star fruit. Full article

The consumption of alcohol is often accompanied by other foods, such as fruits and vegetables. This study is aimed to investigate the effects of 20 selected fruits on ethanol metabolism to find out their potential health benefits and harmful impacts. The effects of the fruits on ethanol metabolism were characterized by the concentrations of ethanol and acetaldehyde in blood, as well as activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase in liver of mice. Furthermore, potential health benefits and harmful impacts of the fruits were evaluated by biochemical parameters including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase. Generally, effects of these fruits on ethanol metabolism were very different. Some fruits (such as Citrus limon (yellow), Averrhoa carambola, Pyrus spp., and Syzygium samarangense) could decrease the concentration of ethanol in blood. In addition, several fruits (such as Cucumis melo) showed hepatoprotective effects by significantly decreasing AST or ALT level in blood, while some fruits (such as Averrhoa carambola) showed adverse effects. The results suggested that the consumption of alcohol should not be accompanied by some fruits, and several fruits could be developed as functional foods for the prevention and treatment of hangover and alcohol use disorder. Full article

Plants that help in slowing down the digestion of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in the pancreas and small intestine of humans play an important role in the reduction of obesity. On the other hand, there may be plants or plant parts that stimulate intestinal lipolytic activity, thus contributing to greater TAG assimilation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aqueous methanolic extracts of ninety eight (98) medicinal, herbal and aquatic plant materials from Malaysia for their effect on porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) activity and to identify the structure of an anti-lipase compound from one of the sources. The degree of inhibition was also quantified as relative to orlistat activity against PPL (orlistat equivalents). Results revealed that while 19.4% of the extracts were found to have anti-lipase activity ≥80%, 12% were actually found to promote PPL activity. Twenty two percent (22.4%) exhibited moderate inhibition (41%–80%) and 2% were neutral toward PPL activity. The ripe fruit of Averrhoa carambola and the leaves of Archidendron jiringa (Jack) I.C Nielsen L. (jering), Cynometra cauliflora (nam-nam) and Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd (candle nut/buah keras) had the highest (100%) anti-lipase activity and are equivalent to 0.11 µg orlistat/mL. Plants that stimulated lipase activity included Pimpinella anisum L. (aniseed/jintan manis), activating the enzyme by 186.5%. Kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of C. cauliflora leaves and found to be an active lipase inhibitor. The structure was elucidated using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and 2D-NMR analyses. Full article

Fifteen compounds, which included six chiral lignans and nine phenolic glycosides, were separated from the butanol fraction of Averrhoa carambola L. root and identified. All of the compounds, namely 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), benzyl-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (+)-5'-methoxyisolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-gluco-pyranoside (3), (+)-isolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), koaburaside (5), (+)-lyoniresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), (−)-lyoniresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), (−)-5'-methoxyisolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), (−)-isolariciresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl 1-O-β-apiofuranosyl (1''→6')-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl 1-O-β-apiofuranosyl (1''→6')-β-gluco-pyranoside (11), methoxyhydroquinone-4-β-D-glucopyranoside (12), (2S)-2-O-β-D-gluco-pyranosyl-2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (13), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenol 1-O-β-D-apio-furanosyl-(1''→6')-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (14) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenol 1-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1''→6')-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (15) were isolated from this plant for the first time. Full article