Phytochemical profile, antioxidant properties, and anticancer activity of Mauritia flexuosa L. from the Ecuadorian Amazon

A comprehensive study was performed to elucidate the metabolite composition, antioxidant activity, and anti-breast cancer potential of peel, pulp, and seed extracts from Mauritia flexuosa L., a palm native to the Ecuadorian Amazon. Antioxidant capacity was determined using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, supported by electrochemical analyses. Metabolite profiling by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS revealed diverse phenolic constituents. The antiproliferative effects of the extracts against the T-47D breast cancer cell line were evaluated by MTT assay, with apoptosis induction confirmed by western blotting. Among the tested extracts, the peel demonstrated the strongest cytotoxic activity. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the predominant phenolic compounds may inhibit CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzymes, providing mechanistic insight into the observed antiproliferative effects. Collectively, these findings highlight M. flexuosa as a promising natural source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in the development of novel agents against breast cancer.