Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, with cardiac arrhythmias being one of the main factors contributing to morbidity. Currently, several established antiarrhythmic medications with proven efficacy are available. However, frequent use of these medications causes adverse effects with medium- and long-term use. This necessitates the development of new medications, preferably of natural origin and with ethnopharmacological relevance. In this sense, Acmella oleracea presents itself as an alternative for the treatment of arrhythmia, considering studies suggesting its cardioprotective effect. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the electrophysiological and antiarrhythmic effects of a supercritical extract of Acmella oleracea (SEAO) in rats. The extract was obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction at 70 °C and 320 bar, with an extract yield of 9.72 ± 0.26% (db) and a spilanthol yield of 25.91%. The extract was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg in two experimental models: (1) assessment of cardiac electrophysiology and (2) epinephrine-induced arrhythmia. Electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters were measured and compared with controls treated with epinephrine and lidocaine. The SEAO group maintained sinus rhythm and preserved cardiac intervals, with a significant reduction in heart rate and R-R interval compared to the epinephrine group. These findings demonstrate that SEAO exerts dose-dependent antiarrhythmic effects comparable to those of lidocaine. The results corroborate the potential use of SEAO as a natural alternative for arrhythmia management, encouraging further pharmacological and clinical studies.

This study aimed to extract and microencapsulate anthocyanins from the red jambo fruit using supercritical fluid extraction with a co-solvent, targeting applications in functional ingredients. The red jambo peel was pre-processed in two forms, crushed and peeled only, and characterized in terms of proximate composition and bioactive compounds. The supercritical extraction bed was evaluated for particle diameter, apparent density, real density, and porosity. Supercritical fluid extraction was performed at 50 °C and 350 bar using acidified water as a co-solvent to obtain aqueous extracts. The extracts were microencapsulated to improve the availability of bioactives for use as functional ingredients. The extracts and microcapsules were analyzed for their bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity. The crushed sample showed greater anthocyanin content than the peeled sample; however, both samplescontents were higher than those reported in previous studies for conventional extraction techniques. The aqueous extracts and microcapsules exhibited high levels of anthocyanins, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity. These results demonstrate that supercritical fluid extraction is an efficient and sustainable technique for obtaining aqueous extracts rich in anthocyanins and related antioxidant compounds and free of organic solvents, with promising applications in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, adding value to species and diversifying the sources of anthocyanins.