Comparative bioactivities of Annona squamosa seeds and fruits: phytochemical insights and pharmacological evaluation

Abstract

Annona squamosa has been traditionally used and has demonstrated promising therapeutic properties. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive comparative evaluation of the phytochemical composition and biological activities among its different fruit parts. The present work aimed to examine the chemical compositions of seed (MSS), pulp and peels (JSW) and assess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of the Annona squamosa fruits procured from the Iraqi market. The antioxidant capacity using DPPH, ABTS, 5-LOX, and ORAC assays and the anti-inflammatory COX1/COX2 inhibition assays were determined. In addition, anticancer potential against HepG2 (liver), MCF-7 (breast), and Colo-205 (colon) cell lines were investigated via MTT- assay, flow cytometry for cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis analysis. Phytochemical profiling was also conducted using LC-HRESIMS. Among the extracts, MSS exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. JSW on the other hand demonstrated higher activity in DPPH and ABTS assays. Furthermore, MSS displayed significant cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. Overall, the findings underscore the pharmacological potential of A. squamosa seeds and fruits (pulp and peels) extracts, particularly MSS, as valuable sources of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. This study highlights the promise of A. squamosa as a sustainable candidate for drug development and nutraceutical applications, while also emphasizing the health benefits of fruit waste utilization.