Chemical characterization and biopharmaceutical properties of three fruits from Côte d’Ivoire

The aim of the study was to characterize the fruit extracts of Ficus sur, Gardenia ternifolia and Uapaca togoensis prepared from water and methanol solvents. Metabolomic and antiradical properties were investigated. Enzyme inhibitory effects were also studied against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Extracts’ toxicological properties were assayed through allelopathy, brine shrimp lethality and Daphnia magna assays. Extracts’ effects on human prostate cancer PC3 cell viability and isolated mouse colon specimens challenged with lipopolysaccharide were also evaluated. The gene expression of VEGFA, TNFα, HIF1α and COX-2 was measured in prostate tissue. Metabolomic analysis conducted on methanolic extracts identified 47 phytochemicals in U. togoensis, 45 in F. sur and 24 in G. ternifolia. The methanolic F. sur extract showed the highest antioxidant and enzyme inhibition properties compared to the other fruits. However, F. sur was also the most toxic as revealed by the higher grade of heart rate reduction, in the D. magna model, and by the increased viability of prostate cancer cells. Nevertheless, most of the tested extracts, including F. sur extracts, were effective in blunting LPS-induced gene expression of all tested biomarkers, in isolated prostate. Overall, the present toxicological screening suggests caution in the use of F. sur extracts.