Abstract

As a valuable tree nut, walnut is a well-known member of the Juglandaceae family. The fruit is made up of an outer green shell cover or husk, the middle shell which must be cracked to release the kernel, a thin layer known as skin or the seed coat, and finally, the kernel or meat. The nutritional importance of walnut fruit is ascribed to its kernel. The shell and husk are burned as fuel or discarded away as waste products. In the past two decades, the evaluation of the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different parts of walnut has received great interest. In this contribution, the recent reports on the extraction and quantification of phenolic content from each part of the walnut tree and fruit using different solvents were highlighted and comparatively reviewed. The current review paper also tries to describe the antioxidant content of phenolic extracts obtained from different parts of the walnut tree and fruit. Additionally, the antioxidant and antiradical activities of the prepared extracts have also been discussed.

Highlights

  • Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites present in different parts of all plants species [1,2].They belong to a large and heterogeneous group of biologically active molecules, and their generation depends on different enzymes involved in various metabolic pathways [3]

  • The results showed that in all assays, the ethanol extracts had the highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids, as well as highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities when compared to the water extracts [149]

  • It was shown that the antioxidant capacities of all extracts evaluated by ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays were in agreement with the content of total phenolic except for defatted kernel extract

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Summary

Introduction

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites present in different parts of all plants species [1,2]. J. regia L. is recognized as a rich source of different valuable chemicals because the kernel, fresh green fruit, husk, shell, skin, bark, leaves, and root are comprehensively studied to use in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In this respect, all parts of walnut tree can be used as an excellent source of various compounds expressing antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, as well as antinociceptive, antihistaminic, antiulcer, antiasthmatic, antidiabetics, immunomodulator, antifertility, hepatoprotective, central nervous system stimulant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, lipolytic, larvicidal, insecticidal and many others properties positively affecting human health [20]. The current review paper tries to discuss the antioxidant and radical scavenging activity of each part of the walnut plant

Chemical Classes of Metabolites Detected in the Walnut
Walnut
Kernel
Other Parts of the Walnut Tree
Branch
The Solvents Used for the Preparation of Walnut Extracts
Other Parts of the Tree
Total Antioxidant Content
Total Antioxidant Activity
Radical Scavenging Activity
DPPH Radical
ABTS Radical Cation
Findings
Conclusions
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