Bioactive Potential and Chemical Composition of Green Peel of Dominico-Hartón (Musa AAB) Ethanolic Extract

Musa AAB is a key crop in Quindío (Colombia), and its peel—an agro-industrial byproduct—has been shown to contain polyphenols with antioxidant properties that are important for cardiovascular health. The objective was to characterize the ethanolic extract of the green peel (EEGPP) of the Dominico-Hartón variety (Musa AAB) harvested in Quindío and to evaluate its antioxidant activities and its effect on cell viability in HMEC-1 cells. The EEGPP was obtained by maceration. Total phenols, flavonoids, and glycosides were quantified by spectrophotometry; polyphenols were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH and TABARS assays, and cell viability was assessed using the SRB assay. The extract yield was 1.37%; the extract had a higher content of flavonoids and phenols. Several polyphenols were identified in high concentrations: 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, rutin, p-coumaric acid, and vanillic acid. The extract exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activity and increased cell viability at low concentrations after 24 h of exposure in HMEC-1 cells. These findings suggest that the EEGPP from Musa AAB is a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and that it promotes the viability of HMEC-1 endothelial cells, which encourages further investigation into its applicability.