Chemical Characterization, Antibacterial Activity, and Embryo Acute Toxicity of Rhus coriaria L. Genotype from Sicily (Italy)

Abstract

This study reports a full characterization of the Sicilian sumac, Rhus coriaria L. This fruit represents a potential source of fiber (33.21 ± 1.02%) and unsaturated fatty acids, being the contents of linoleic and α-linolenic acids, 30.82 ± 1.21% and 1.85 ± 0.07%, respectively. In addition, the content of phenolic and total anthocyanin was 71.69 ± 1.23 mg/g as gallic acid equivalents, and 6.71 ± 0.12 mg/g as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents, respectively. The high content in mineral elements, consisting mainly of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, followed by aluminum, iron, sodium, boron, and zinc, was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Moreover, its antimicrobial activity was evaluated against multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms, represented by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from poultry. The activity of seven different sumac fruit extracts obtained using the following solvents—ethanol (SE), methanol (SM), acetone (SA), ethanol and water (SEW), methanol and water (SMW), acetone and water (SAW), water (SW)—was evaluated. The polyphenol profile of SM extract, which showed better activity, was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). The major component identified was gallic acid, followed by quercetin, methyl digallate, pentagalloyl-hexoside, and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside. The non-toxicity of Sicilian R. coriaria was confirmed by testing the effect of the same extract on zebrafish embryos.

Plants with Antimicrobial Activity Growing in Italy: A Pathogen-Driven Systematic Review for Green Veterinary Pharmacology Applications

“…rapa DC.) [23]; Crinum angustum [110]; Tinospora cordifolia and Alstonia scholaris [111]; Rhus coriaria L. [112]; Calycotome villosa [78];…”

The Nutraceutical Properties of Rhus coriaria Linn: Potential Application on Human Health and Aging Biomedicine

“…The principally identified flavonoids of methanol/aqueous extracts in Sicilian Sumac are quercetin 3-O-galactoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, quercetin, and myricetin 3-O-hexoside. Among the organic acids, the main representatives are gallic acids and pentagalloyl-hexoside [ 11 ]. The volatile compounds of Sicilian Sumac determine the composition of essential oils and are prevalently derived from monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenes such as β-caryophyllene and α-pyrene, respectively, and from non-terpenes compounds such as aldehydes [ 7 , 12 ].…”

“…Furthermore, fibers and unsaturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, linolenic and α-linoleic acids (omega-3 and -6), can be found. Potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are the major mineral components in Sicilian Sumac [ 11 ]. Exhaustive information about the composition in vitamins is lacking, although some scientific works analyzing Syrian Sumac water extracts described a main content of pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, thiamine, and riboflavin [ 5 , 13 ].…”

“…Tests of different Sumac phytochemicals on Enterobacteriaceae multidrug resistance strains showed the best antimicrobial activity for the methanol and ethanol extracts with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of 9.37 μg/mL, with a major action of the first one because of its higher content in phenolics and flavonoids [ 11 ].…”

Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods: Is It Possible and Sustainable for Bridging Health and Food?

“…The results show the safety of the tested spices, which is an important step for their safe use. Lo Vecchio et al [ 4 ] reported the full characterization of Rhus coriaria L., a fruit from Sicily which is a potential source of fiber (33.21 ± 1.02%) and unsaturated fatty acids and linoleic and α-linolenic acids (30.82 ± 1.21% and 1.85 ± 0.07%, respectively). Along with the high content in phenolic, anthocyanin, and minerals, its non-toxicity has been confirmed through tests of its extract on zebrafish embryos.…”