Phenolic profile, gastrointestinal behavior and bioaccessibility of Victoria amazonica leaves and petioles using in vitro and in silico approaches.

Leaves and petioles of Victoria amazonica were analyzed for phenolics, sugars, bioactivity, and gastrointestinal behavior. Both showed high levels of phenolics and flavonoids, mainly ellagic (2166.97 μg/g) and syringic (1297.91 μg/g) acids in the leaves, and ellagic (574.37 μg/g) and gallic acids (232.72 μg/g) in the petiole, while glucose and fructose dominated the sugar profile. No significant antimicrobial activity was detected against E. coli and S. aureus. In vitro digestion revealed an overall decrease in phenolics content, but higher release of gallic and protocatechuic acids in the gastric phase and greater intestinal bioaccessibility, especially in petioles were observed. Sugars remained stable in the gastric phase but decreased in the intestinal phase. In silico predictions indicated high gastrointestinal absorption and blood-brain barrier permeation for trans-cinnamic, benzoic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, suggesting neuroprotective potential. Higher micronucleus frequency in petioles highlights the need for further safety evaluation. Overall, Victoria amazonica emerges as a low-calorie source of bioactive compounds with potential benefits for public health and the valorization of Amazonian biodiversity.