Characterization of antioxidant properties and metabolite profile of Agave atrovirens extracts

Agave spp. is widely analyzed because several functional properties have been described. Some minor bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, saponins and Maillard compounds produced during extraction procedures have been reported to exert antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to elucidate the antioxidant properties of three different Agave atrovirens extracts in a HepG2 cell culture assay. The three extracts analyzed mostly showed antioxidant properties with an increase in NRF2 content in nuclear extracts. However, a differential response was observed in the reduction of protein oxidative damage in the three extracts analyzed, the crude extract being the one that mainly induced a reduction in oxidative damage. Metabolomic analysis was performed to elucidate the potential molecules responsible for the antioxidant properties, where 2-amino-4-methylphenol could be the main candidate responsible for inducing the transcription of cellular antioxidant response elements. It could be concluded that crude extract of Agave atrovirens may increase the cellular antioxidant defense system, with a reduction in oxidative damage.