Bioactivity screening of pinhão (<i>Araucaria Angustifolia</i> (Bertol.) Kuntze) seed extracts: the inhibition of cholinesterases and α-amylases, and cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities

The objective of this work was to determine the potential bioactive properties of extracts from bio-residues of <i>pinhão</i> (<i>Araucaria angustifolia</i> (Bertol.) Kuntze) seeds, namely the α-amylase and cholinesterase inhibition, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory properties. The <i>pinhão</i> extracts evaluated were obtained from cooking water (CW) and as an ethanolic extract from residual <i>pinhão</i> seed shells (PS). Catechin was the major compound found in both extracts. The PS extract presented higher antioxidant levels and the better inhibition of human salivary and porcine pancreatic α-amylases when compared to the CW extract. Also, based on <i>in vivo</i> evaluations, the PS extract did not differ significantly from acarbose when compared to a control group. The most potent inhibitor of cholinesterases was the CW extract. No cytotoxicity toward normal cells was detected, and neither extract showed anti-inflammatory activity. The PS extract presented cytotoxic activity toward non-small-cell lung, cervical, hepatocellular and breast carcinoma cell lines. Overall, the results demonstrated the potential bioactivity of extracts obtained from <i>pinhão</i> bio-residues.