Antioxidant capacity, antitumor activity and metabolomic profile of tamarillo (Solanum betaceum).

Summary: Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum), native to the Andes and a PANC in Brazil, contains bioactive compounds with potential anticancer properties in vitro. This study aimed to assess the influence of tamarillo extracts for their antioxidant activity, chemical composition and antiproliferative effects on human prostate cells. Aqueous (AE) and ethanolic extracts (EE) were tested, revealing higher phenolic content and superior antioxidant activity in EE (TPC: 1191.78 ± 28.16 mg GAE/100 g, DPPH: 514.90 μmol TE g−1; FRAP: 150.35 ± 4.42 μmol Fe2SO4 g−1). UPLC‐MS analysis identified twenty‐two compound classes, mainly flavonoids (eleven), carboxylic acids and derivatives (eight), organooxygen compounds (eight) and fatty acyls (seven). Tamarillo extracts significantly reduced cell viability in DU‐145 and PC‐3 cells by almost 60% in 48 h, with PC‐3 cells showing greater resilience and a 30% reduction with EE. Additionally, tamarillo extracts induced cell cycle arrest (G2/M phase) and apoptosis, suggesting their potential as natural antioxidants with protective effects against prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]