Phytochemical Components and Bioactivity Assessment among Twelve Strawberry (Arbutus unedo L.) Genotypes Growing in Morocco Using Chemometrics

Abstract

There are not many exhaustive works emphasizing the amount of genetic diversity among the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L) genotypes in Morocco. This work aims to assess the biochemical composition of strawberry tree fruits, as well as to establish the variation of this composition among them. In this study, total phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF), condensed tannins (CT) and hydrolyzable tannins (HT), total anthocyanins (TA), and free radical scavenging activity through ABTS were investigated in strawberry tree fruits. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative analyses of individual phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were carried out. Color parameters such as lightness (L *), Chroma (c *), and hue angle (h°) were also investigated. All studied variables showed highly significant differences among all samples with the exception of hydrolyzable tannins and chromatic coordinates. TP varied from 22.63 ± 1.74 to 39.06 ± 2.44 mg GAE/g DW, TF varied from 3.30 ± 0.60 to 8.62 ± 1.10 mg RE/g DW, and TA ranged between 0.12 ± 0.06 and 0.66 ± 0.15 mg cya-3-glu/100 g DW. In addition, CT and HT amounts were in the range of 10.41 ± 1.07–16.08 ± 1.50 mg TAE/g DW and 4.08 ± 2.43–6.34 ± 3.47 TAE/g DW, respectively. Moreover, the IC50 value (ABTS) ranged between 1.75 and 19.58 mg AAE/g DW. 17 phenolic compounds were detected in strawberry tree fruits. Gallocatechol and catechin were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Matrix of correlations revealed significant positive and negative correlations among variables particularly c *, a *, and b *. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first three components formed than 68% of the total inertia. The following variables gallic acid, protocatechuic, gallocatechin, gallic acid derivative, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, ellagic acid derivative II, L *, and h * were the most involved in the total variance explained. Hierarchical clustering classified samples into one main cluster, with a single branch. The results highlight a high biochemical diversity within studied strawberry genotypes, which is probably more genetically related.

Phytochemical Profile, Antiradical Capacity and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Potential of Wild Arbutus unedo L. Fruits from Central Italy: A Chemometric Approach

“…As regards flavan-3-ols, FLC ranged from 2.98 to 9.58 mg CTE g −1 (for P1 and P2, respectively; p < 0.05), being P2 > P5 > P4 > P3 > P1 ( Figure 2 ). Reported values are higher than those found by Zitouni et al [ 26 ] for wild Moroccan accessions. Moreover, it is interesting to note that the FLC of the P5 accession represented about 50% of its TPC.…”

Biological Potential of Fruit and Leaves of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) from Croatia

“…Polyphenols are present in all plant organs and tissues and are mainly concentrated in the fruit skin and leaves [35]. Numerous studies emphasize that strawberry tree fruits are a rich source of polyphenolic compounds, especially from the phenolic acids and flavonoids groups [31,36,37]. Results of total phenol (TPC), total non-flavonoid (TNFC) and total flavonoid (TFC) contents of strawberry tree fruits and leaves are presented in Table 2.…”

Functionnal and Technological Properties of Five Strawberry (Arbutus Unedo L.) Fruit as Bioactive Ingredients in Functional Foods

“…anthocyanins and other flavonoids, gallic acid derivatives, and tannins), vitamins C and E, and carotenoids. [4,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] These bioactive plant compounds have been used since ancient times as both primary and supplemental treatments for various ailments as well as to support normal physiological functions. [14] These phenolic compounds can amplify the body's defense system to eliminate cancer cells and block angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels and known to be essential for tumor development.…”