3.1.3. Phytochemical Aspects

Table 1 presents a summary of phytochemical studies carried out with di fferent *T. esculenta* organs, as well as the structures of isolated substances.

*Molecules* **2020**,

*25*, 3879

**Table 1.** *Cont.*


**Table 1.** *Cont.*


**Table 1.** *Cont.*

**Table 1.** *Cont.*


N.I.: not identified; CL: cyclitol; F: flavonoid; PA: phenolic acid; T: terpenes; HPLC: High Performance Liquid Chromatography; HS-SPME-GC-MS: Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry Detection; LC-MS: Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry; UHPLC: Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography; UHPLC–MS/MS: Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography associated with Mass Spectrometry; DVB/CAR/PDMS: Divinylbenzene/Carboxen/Polydimethylsiloxane. \* Based on the lack of specificity in the indication of the substitution chemical groups it was not possible to design the structures once the article states that it was a tentative identification

Phytochemical investigations include the in-depth study of the target species, as well as extractive and separation methods, purification and structural determination of isolated chemical constituents [37]. Cerrado species are known to have significant amount of phenolic compounds in their composition, which are bioactive substances widely distributed in nature and derive from two biosynthetic routes, that of shikimic acid and that of acetyl-CoA, being divided into two large groups, phenolic acids and flavonoids, commonly found in fruits and vegetables [38].

To date, there is scarcity of studies on the bioactive compounds present in *T. esculenta*, mainly for roots and stems. [39] determined the centesimal composition of *T. esculenta* fruits. The average values found after triplicate analysis, were: 56.35 kcal/100 g of energy value, 83.16 g/100g of moisture, 1.15 g/100 g of proteins, 0.19 g/100 of lipids, 12.51 g/100 g of carbohydrates, 2.40 g/100 g dietary fiber and 0.61 g/100 g of fixed mineral residue. In addition, the analysis revealed 26.7 mg/100 g of calcium, 0.84 mg/100 g of zinc and 0.60 mg/100 g of iron, 0.0 mg/100 g of copper and 10.8 mg/100 g of magnesium. The phosphorus concentration was considered insignificant [40].

In a study on fruits and seeds in which extraction was performed using the technique of maceration in acetone and methanol, quinic (**9**), gallic (**5**) and *p*-coumaric (**8**) acids, in addition to epicatechin (**4**) and catechin (**3**), were identified in the ketone extract of the pulp, the latter being also found in the pulp methanolic extract. In the ketone extract of the fruit bark, naringenin (**7**), catechin (**3**) and epicatechin (**4**) were detected, not identified in the methanolic extract of the fruit bark. For seeds, epicatechin (**4**), catechin (**3**), naringenin (**7**) and luteolin (**6**) were found in the ketone extract (**6**) and in the methanolic naringenin extract (**7**) and luteolin (**6**) [33].

Other phytochemical findings of this species were analyzed using 5:95 hydroalcoholic extract (*v*/*<sup>v</sup>*, water, ethanol) from fruits, followed by evaporation and collection of the lipophilic fraction, which was homogenized in hexane. High mirecetin (**1**) and quercetin (**2**) concentrations were determined, approximately 89.90 mg/100 g and 30.20 mg/100 g, respectively, which are associated with possible antioxidant and antiproliferative properties [36].

Furthermore, the analysis of the methanolic extract of the pulp of *T. esculenta* fruits showed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids. The following 12 phenolic compounds were found: gallic acid (**5**), chlorogenic acid (**13**), catechin (**3**), epicatechin (**4**), ca ffeic acid (**12**), serum acid (**16**), *p*-coumaric acid (**8**), rutin (**10**), ferulic acid (**15**), quercetin (**2**), eriodicthiol (**14**) and acacetin (**11**); and the cyclitol quinic acid (**9**). This study identified 27 aromatic compounds, including esters, alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, fatty acids and terpenoids such as monoterpenolinalol (**18**) and the sesquiterpene β-bisabolene (**17**) [35].

In this sense, in order to investigate the phytochemical composition of *T. esculenta* leaves and stem, hydroalcoholic extract was produced, which, after analysis and characterization, allowed identifying derivatives of flavonoids, benzoic and cinnamic acids, fragments of aglycones, quercetin (**2**) and *dica*ff*eoylquinic* acid (**24**), which compounds being given the ability to influence renal hemodynamics and induce diuretic response in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive Wistar rats [35].

Junior (2019) analyzed the hydroalcoholic extract of *T. esculenta* leaves and identified some compounds such as quinic acid (**9**), ca ffeic acid (**12**), gallic acid (**5**), which are classified as phenolic acids, in addition to flavonoids such as catechin (**3**), rutin (**10**), acacetin (**11**) and quercetin (**2**), which are associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [36].
