Six Edible Wild Fruits as Potential Antioxidant Additives or Nutritional Supplements

Abstract

Total antioxidant activity of six non-cultivated but traditionally collected fruits from the south of Europe was assessed by measuring their ability to reduce the hydroxyl radical (OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and their Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). This antioxidant activity was compared with that shown by the synthetic antioxidants BHA (E-320), BHT (E-321) and propyl gallate (E-310). Total phenolics, ascorbic acid and the carotenoid content of the fruits were also analyzed. All fruits showed a high ability to scavenge the OH radical, ranging from 60.61% to 81.04% inhibition for Rosa canina and Crataegus monogyna, respectively. The H(2)O(2) scavenging capacity and the TEAC value varied widely, ranging between 3.63% and 87.26% inhibition of H(2)O(2) and between 0.47 and 416.64 mM trolox g(-1) FW for Sorbus domestica and Rosa canina, respectively. The antioxidant activity of fruits was higher than that of the synthetic additives analyzed, except in the TEAC assay. The phenolic and carotenoid content of R. canina was much higher than that of the other fruits analyzed and its ascorbic acid concentration was also high, reflecting its higher efficacy towards ABTS⁻ (TEAC assay) and H(2)O(2) species(.) In spite of these associations, the correlation coefficients between total antioxidant activity and the antioxidant compounds analyzed were not very significant; only phenolics and carotenoids showed a marginal correlation with the TEAC assay. The results support the possible use of R. canina as natural antioxidant to replace the synthetic additives, as well as their use in the production of functional foods with a high antioxidant activity.

Wild blackthorn (Prunus spinosaL.) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogynaJacq.) fruits as valuable sources of antioxidants

“…The Crataegus monogyna fruits analyzed in our study showed values of (449.38 to 1438.52) mg gallic acid Eq·100 g -1 for FolinCiocalteu determination (table III), higher values than those reported by Ganhao et al [26] and Egea et al [29] [(450 and 216.61) mg gallic acid Eq·100 g -1 , respectively]. Applying the ABTS ·+ method, the values for fruits of C. monogyna ranged from (1.68 to 6.12) mmol Trolox Eq·100 g -1 of fresh fruit, which matches Ganhao et al, who provided 5.68 mM Trolox Eq·100 g -1 of fresh fruit [26], and are in accordance with the results of Froehlicher et al [30].…”

Evaluation of antioxidant potential of two Daphne species (D. gnidioides and D. pontica) from Turkey

“…Therefore, phenolic compounds are the major contributors of antioxidant potential. In accordance with our results, many authors observed the strongest correlation between the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity methods (Egea et al, 2010;Erkan et al, 2011;Sahreen et al, 2010) Ferric reducing power activities were more associated with cupric reducing power activities than inhibition activity of linoleic acid oxidation. Good correlation was observed among total antioxidant capacity assays, namely phosphomolybdenum and β-carotene/linoleic acid assays (p<0.05).…”

Nutritional, phytochemical and antioxidant evaluation and FT-IR analysis of freeze dried extracts of Ecballium elaterium fruit juice from three localities

“…Higher antioxidant activity has been attributed to higher total polyphenolic compounds present in fruit juice of Cap-Bon region. The difference of fruit juices in the DPPH scavenging activity could be explained by many factors, such as the ripening state of the fruits and environmental differences (Egea et al, 2010;Dou et al, 2013).…”