Fruit Seeds of the Rosaceae Family: A Waste, New Life, or a Danger to Human Health?

Reversed phase HPLC with UHPLC benefits for the determination of tocochromanols in the seeds of edible fruits in the Rosaceae family

Rosaceae family includes several edible fruit species processed in vast quantities and generates large amounts of seeds valuable in tocopherols. In the present study, the composition of tocochromanols in the seeds of 141 samples was determined by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPLC) with diode array detector (DAD), fluorescence detector (FLD) and confirmed by mass detector (MS). The thirteen species belonging to the Rosaceae family were classified by multivariate statistical analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) into two groups based on tocochromanols content. Group 'A' includes pears (Pyrus communis), sweet cherry (Prunus avium), sour cherry (Prunus cerasus), apricots (Prunus armeniaca), hexaploid plums (Prunus domestica), diploid plums (Prunus cerasifera), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and rose hip (Rosa rugosa); while group 'B' quince (Cydonia oblonga), Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica), strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), dessert apples (Malus domestica), and crab apples (Malus spp.). Two rapid (6-7 min) and low pressure (7.2-8.1 MPa) separation methods were developed and validated using two core-shell columns (i) C18 and (ii) F5. The F5 achieved a separation of β and γ isomers while the C18 column did not.

Armeniacae semen amarum: a review on its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, toxicology and pharmacokinetics

Armeniacae semen amarum-seeds of Prunus armeniaca L. (Rosaceae) (ASA), also known as Kuxingren in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese herbal drug commonly used for lung disease and intestinal disorders. It has long been used to treat coughs and asthma, as well as to lubricate the colon and reduce constipation. ASA refers to the dried ripe seed of diverse species of Rosaceae and contains a variety of phytochemical components, including glycosides, organic acids, amino acids, flavonoids, terpenes, phytosterols, phenylpropanoids, and other components. Extensive data shows that ASA exhibits various pharmacological activities, such as anticancer activity, anti-oxidation, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammation, protection of cardiovascular, neural, respiratory and digestive systems, antidiabetic effects, and protection of the liver and kidney, and other activities. In clinical practice, ASA can be used as a single drug or in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines, forming ASA-containing formulas, to treat various afflictions. However, it is important to consider the potential adverse reactions and pharmacokinetic properties of ASA during its clinical use. Overall, with various bioactive components, diversified pharmacological actions and potent efficacies, ASA is a promising drug that merits in-depth study on its functional mechanisms to facilitate its clinical application.

Valorization of Defatted Cherry Seed Residues from Liquor Processing by Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Extraction: A Sustainable Strategy for Production of Phenolic-Rich Extracts with Antioxidant Potential

The integrated valorization of food chain waste is one of the most promising alternatives in the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Thus, an efficient solid-phase matrix dispersion extraction method, using experimental factorial design and response surface methodology, has been developed and optimized for the recovery of polyphenols from defatted cherry seeds obtained after cherry liquor manufacture and subsequent fatty acid extraction, evaluating the effect of each processing step on the composition and phenolic content of sweet cherry residues. The phenolic extracts before fermentation showed the highest content of total polyphenols (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) (3 ± 1 mg QE·g-1 and 1.37 ± 0.08 mg GAE·g-1, respectively), while the highest antioxidant capacity was obtained in the defatted seed extracts after both fermentation and distillation. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS) was used to determine the phenolic profile. Dihydroxybenzoic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin were the main phenolics found, showing differences in concentration between the stages of liquor production. The results underline the prospective of cherry by-products for obtaining phenol-rich bioactive extracts for possible use in different industrial sectors, offering a feasible solution for the cascade valorization of cherry agri-food waste.

Influence of phytocenosis on the medical potential of moss extracts: the Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt. case

The question was asked "whether plant phytocenosis has an impact on the medical potential of the extracts from Pleurozium schreberi". Moss samples were collected from four different phytocoenoses: mixed forest (oak-pine forest), a forest tract in pine forest, 5-15-year-old pine forest and 50-year-old pine forest. Chemical composition of the extracts, antioxidative capacity (FRAP and ABTS·+ assays), as well as biological activities including cytotoxicity for the mouse fibroblasts L929 line (MTT reduction assay), biostatic/biocidal effect against selected bacteria and fungi (broth microdilution method followed by culture on solid media), and regenerative properties on human fibroblasts HFF-1 line (scratch assay) were tested. The conducted research clearly proves that phytocenosis determines the quality of moss extracts. The analyses showed that in every examined aspect the IV-7 extract (obtained from a specimen collected in a Pinus sylvestris L. forest, monoculture up to 15 years old) exhibited the highest values and the strongest activity. Other extracts of the same species but growing in other phytocenoses-in a mixed forest (IV-5), a forest tract in a Pinus sylvestris monoculture forest (IV-6) and in a P. sylvestris forest of pine monoculture about 50 years old (IV-8) showed much weaker activity and lower values of the above-mentioned parameters. At the same time, none of the tested extracts exerted a pro-regenerative effect. The P. schreberi extracts were characterized by a varied total content of phenolic compounds in the range from 0.63 ± 0.02 to 14.01 ± 0.25 mg/g of plant material. UPLC/MS analysis showed a varied phenolic profile of the extracts, with caffeoylquinic acid and quercetin triglucoside predominating in all of them.

Natural Compounds and Products from an Anti-Aging Perspective

Aging is a very complex process that is accompanied by a degenerative impairment in many of the major functions of the human body over time. This inevitable process is influenced by hereditary factors, lifestyle, and environmental influences such as xenobiotic pollution, infectious agents, UV radiation, diet-borne toxins, and so on. Many external and internal signs and symptoms are related with the aging process and senescence, including skin dryness and wrinkles, atherosclerosis, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, etc. Oxidative stress, a consequence of the imbalance between pro- and antioxidants, is one of the main provoking factors causing aging-related damages and concerns, due to the generation of highly reactive byproducts such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during the metabolism, which result in cellular damage and apoptosis. Antioxidants can prevent these processes and extend healthy longevity due to the ability to inhibit the formation of free radicals or interrupt their propagation, thereby lowering the level of oxidative stress. This review focuses on supporting the antioxidant system of the organism by balancing the diet through the consumption of the necessary amount of natural ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential amino acids, probiotics, plants' fibers, nutritional supplements, polyphenols, some phytoextracts, and drinking water.

Fruit Juice Industry Wastes as a Source of Bioactives

Food processing sustainability, as well as waste minimization, are key concerns for the modern food industry. A significant amount of waste is generated by the fruit juice industry each year. In addition to the economic losses caused by the removal of these wastes, its impact on the environment is undeniable. Therefore, researchers have focused on recovering the bioactive components from fruit juice processing, in which a great number of phytochemicals still exist in the agro-industrial wastes, to help minimize the waste burden as well as provide new sources of bioactive compounds, which are believed to be protective agents against certain diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Although these wastes contain non-negligible amounts of bioactive compounds, information on the utilization of these byproducts in functional ingredient/food production and their impact on the sensory quality of food products is still scarce. In this regard, this review summarizes the most recent literature on bioactive compounds present in the wastes of apple, citrus fruits, berries, stoned fruits, melons, and tropical fruit juices, together with their extraction techniques and valorization approaches. Besides, on the one hand, examples of different current food applications with the use of these wastes are provided. On the other hand, the challenges with respect to economic, sensory, and safety issues are also discussed.

In Vitro Inhibitory Effects of Viburnum opulus Bark and Flower Extracts on Digestion of Potato Starch and Carbohydrate Hydrolases Activity

One of the effective treatments for diabetes is to reduce and delay the absorption of glucose by inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in the digestive tract. Currently, there is a great interest in natural inhibitors from various part of plants. In the present study, the phenolic compounds composition of V. opulus bark and flower, and their inhibitory effects on in vitro potato starch digestion as well as on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, have been studied. Bark and flower phenolic extracts reduced the amount of glucose released from potato starch during tree-stage simulated digestion, with IC50 value equal to 87.77 µg/mL and 148.87 µg/mL, respectively. Phenolic bark extract showed 34.9% and 38.4% more potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively, but the activity of plant extracts was lower than that of acarbose. Chlorogenic acid (27.26% of total phenolics) and (+)-catechin (30.48% of total phenolics) were the most prominent phenolics in the flower and bark extracts, respectively. Procyanidins may be responsible for the strongest V. opulus bark inhibitory activity against α-amylase, while (+)-catechin relative to α-glucosidase. This preliminary study provides the basis of further examination of the suitability of V. opulus bark compounds as components of nutraceuticals and functional foods with antidiabetic activity.

Analysis of Cyanogenic Compounds Derived from Mandelonitrile by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography in Rosaceae and Sambucus Families

An analytical method for extraction and quantitative determination of amygdalin, prunasin, and sambunigrin in plant material is described. The method is based on extraction with high-power ultrasound (UAE), with acidified water as solvent and quantification by HPLC-DAD. The best extraction conditions were: 80% sonication amplitude, 55 s extraction time, 70% duty cycle, 0.1 g sample mass, and 10 mL acidified water (0.1% perchloric acid). Once developed, the method was validated in terms of accuracy and precision. Good linearity was obtained, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.999 and the quantification limits ranged from 2.2 μg/g (amygdalin) to 9.6 μg/g (sambunigrin). The accuracy (recovery study) ranged between 90 and 104% and the reproducibility of the method was always <2.3% (RSD). Special attention should be paid to the ratio sample/solvent in samples with potential β-glucosidase activity to avoid degradation of the cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs). The proposed method was used to evaluate the content of CNGs in kernels of Prunus genera, apple seeds, apple pomace, and different plant materials of Sambucus nigra.

Cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of mosses obtained from open habitats

Mosses are mainly the object of ecological and taxonomic research. This group of plants are still underestimated by scientists in other aspects of research. Recent research has shown that these plants contain remarkable and unique substances with high biological activity. Five species of mosses from a large urban ecosystem were identified for present study. In order to determine their biological potential, multifaceted studies were carried out, including: total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial and antifungal study, cytotoxicity evaluation, and scratch assay to assess pro-regenerative effect in the context of their possible use as the ingredients of biologically active cosmetics. Additionally, determination of individual phenolic compounds in selected extracts of the tested mosses was made. Research showed that Ceratodon purpureus and Dryptodon pulvinatus extracts had the greatest potential as antioxidants and antimicrobial activity. The cytotoxicity assessment indicated that the extracts from Dryptodon pulvinatus and Rhytidiadelphus squarossus exerted the strongest negative effect on mouse fibroblast line L929 viability at higher concentrations. While, the extract from Tortulla muralis best stimulated human foreskin fibroblast line HFF-1 proliferation and wound healing. The research on individual phenolic compounds content in the extracts tested indicated over 20 peaks on UPLC chromatograms. The conducted study has shown that mosses, especially so far unexplored species of open ecosystems, and e.g. epilytic habitats, may be a valuable source of biologically active substances and thus may constitute important medical and cosmetic possibilities.

Ion Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection for Determining Cyanide in Urine and Meconium Samples

The parents' addictions and eating habits have a significant influence on the child's growth. The first stool of a newborn baby provides a large amount of information about xenobiotics transmitted by the mother's body. The analytical technique used in the study is ion chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (IC-PAD). The biological samples, which were obtained from women staying in a maternity ward and their partners, revealed cyanide concentrations in urine samples spanning 1.30-25.3 μg L-1. Meanwhile, the results of the meconium samples were in the range of 1.54 μg L-1 to 24.9 μg L-1. Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, the IC-PAD system exhibited satisfactory repeatability (R < 3%, n = 3) and good linearity in the range of 1-100 μg L-1. Thus, it proved to be an effective tool for monitoring trace cyanide concentration in a series of human body fluid matrices, including meconium. Based on the literature review, this is the first application of the IC-PAD analytical technique for the determination of cyanide ions in meconium samples.

Amygdalin: Toxicity, Anticancer Activity and Analytical Procedures for Its Determination in Plant Seeds

Amygdalin (d-Mandelonitrile 6-O-β-d-glucosido-β-d-glucoside) is a natural cyanogenic glycoside occurring in the seeds of some edible plants, such as bitter almonds and peaches. It is a medically interesting but controversial compound as it has anticancer activity on one hand and can be toxic via enzymatic degradation and production of hydrogen cyanide on the other hand. Despite numerous contributions on cancer cell lines, the clinical evidence for the anticancer activity of amygdalin is not fully confirmed. Moreover, high dose exposures to amygdalin can produce cyanide toxicity. The aim of this review is to present the current state of knowledge on the sources, toxicity and anticancer properties of amygdalin, and analytical methods for its determination in plant seeds.

Phenolic Profile and Bioactive Potential of Stems and Seed Kernels of Sweet Cherry Fruit

Every year, large quantities of stems and pits are generated during sweet cherry processing, without any substantial use. Although stems are widely recognized by traditional medicine, detailed and feasible information about their bioactive composition or biological value is still scarce, as well as the characterization of kernels. Therefore, we conducted a study in which bioactivity potential of extracts from stems and kernels of four sweet cherry cultivars (Early Bigi (grown under net cover (C) and without net cover (NC)), Burlat, Lapins, and Van) were examined. The assays included antioxidant (by 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching assays), and antibacterial activities against important Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial human isolates. Profile and individual phenolic composition of each extract were determined by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Extracts from stems of cv. Lapins and kernels of Early Bigi NC presented high levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, ortho-diphenols and saponins. Excepting for cv. Early Bigi NC, major phenolic compounds identified in stems and kernels were sakuranetin and catechin, respectively. In cv. Early Bigi NC the most abundant compounds were ellagic acid for stems and protocatechuic acid for kernels. In all extracts, antioxidant activities showed a positive correlation with the increments in phenolic compounds. Antimicrobial activity assays showed that only stem’s extracts were capable of inhibiting the growth of Gram positive isolates. This new data is intended to provide new possibilities of valorization of these by-products and their valuable properties.

Fatty acid profile and in vitro biological properties of two Rosacea species (Pyrus glabra and Pyrus syriaca), grown as wild in Iran

The high demands for the consumption of edible oils have caused scientists to struggle in assessing wild plants as a new source of seed oils. Therefore, in this study, the oil yield, fatty acid and tocopherol compositions, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the oils obtained from Iran's two endemic plants (Pyrus glabra and Pyrus syriaca) were investigated. The obtained oil yields from the P. glabra and P. syriaca seeds were 33 ± 0.51 and 26 ± 0.28 w/w%, respectively. Oleic acid (C18:1) with the amount of 49.51 ± 1.05% was the major fatty acid in the P. glabra oil, while the main fatty acids in the P. syriaca seed oil belonged to linoleic acid (C18:2) and oleic acid (C18:1) with the amounts of 46.99 ± 0.37 and 41.43 ± 0.23%, respectively. The analysis of tocopherols was done by HPLC, and the results indicated that the P. glabra and P. syriaca seed oils were rich in α-tocopherol (69.80 ± 1.91 and 45.50 ± 1.86 mg/100 g oil, respectively), constituting 86.24 and 89.01% of total detected tocopherols, respectively. The study on the reducing capacity of the oils indicated that the P. glabra oil had more reducing capacity than the P. syriaca oil. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the P. glabra seed oil (43.4 ± 0.7 µg/ml) was higher than the P. syriaca seed oil (46.3 ± 1.2 µg/ml). Also, the investigation of the antibacterial activities indicated that the P. glabra and P. syriaca oils have an inhibitory effect on the studied bacteria. The results indicate that the oils of these plants can be appropriate sources of plant oils which can act as natural antibacterial agents.

Eight new cytotoxic annonaceous acetogenins from the seeds of Annona squamosa

Eight new annonaceous acetogenins, squamotin A-D (1-4), annosquatin IV-V (5 and 6), muricin O (7) and squamosten B (8), together with four known ones (9-12) were isolated from the seeds of Annona squamosa. Their structures were elucidated by chemical methods and spectral data. The inhibitory activities of compound 1-9 against three multidrug resistance cell lines were evaluated. All tested compounds showed strong cytotoxicity.

Antinutritional factors and hypocholesterolemic effect of wild apricot kernel (Prunus armeniaca L.) as affected by detoxification

The present investigation was aimed to study the effect of detoxification on the nutrients and antinutrients of wild apricot kernel followed by its hypocholesterolemic effect in male Wistar albino rats. The results revealed a non-significant (p > 0.05) effect of detoxification on the proximate composition except total carbohydrates and protein content. However, detoxification led to a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in l-ascorbic acid (76.82%), β-carotene (25.90%), dietary fiber constituents (10.51-28.92%), minerals (4.76-31.08%) and antinutritional factors (23.92-77.05%) (phenolics, tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity, saponins, phytic acid, alkaloids, flavonoids, oxalates) along with the complete removal (100%) of bitter and potentially toxic hydrocyanic acid (HCN). The quality parameters of kernel oil indicated no adverse effects of detoxification on free fatty acids, lipase activity, acid value and peroxide value, which remained well below the maximum permissible limit. Blood lipid profile demonstrated that the detoxified apricot kernel group exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) increased levels of HDL-cholesterol (48.79%) and triglycerides (15.09%), and decreased levels of total blood cholesterol (6.99%), LDL-C (22.95%) and VLDL-C (7.90%) compared to that of the raw (untreated) kernel group. Overall, it can be concluded that wild apricot kernel flour could be detoxified efficiently by employing a simple, safe, domestic and cost-effective method, which further has the potential for formulating protein supplements and value-added food products.