Antioxidant Activities Correlation Analysis of Procyanidins from China Cultivars Litchi Pericarp

Weijing Zhou

doi:10.11648/j.sjac.20190701.14

Abstract

Ethanol extracts of litchi pericarp procyanidins (LPPC) were purified from 7 Chinese litchi cultivars. The procyanidin contents in LPPC were ranged from 659.7 mg to 1163.2 mg grape seed procyanidins/g equivalent, while the concentrations of (-)-epicatechin, procyanidin dimmer and trimer were further investigated as well. Antioxidation and free radical scavenging activities of LPPC from different sources were evaluated and compared in vitro. The results showed that LPPC for ‘Huaizhi’ owned the highest free radical scavenging activity on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide radical ( ) and ferric reducing; ‘Feizixiao’ exhibited the highest scavenging capacity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·), hydroxyl radical (·OH) and lipid peroxidation, however, ‘Guiwei’ possessed the highest value of antioxidant activity based on β-carotene bleaching and ferrous chelating assay. Furthermore, the compositions of LPPC suggested positive correlations with their antioxidant activities significantly.

Highlights

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), which is a tropical fruit of the Sapindaceae family originating from South-east Asia, is a white aril surrounded by a bright red attractive pericarp
The relation of the antioxidant activities of litchi pericarp procyanidins (LPPC) and the procyanidins content in litchi pericarp extract were discussed, which are essential for predicting their bioactivities and subsequent end-use in food
Seven litchi (Litchi Chinensis Soon.) cultivars, at Weijing Zhou et al.: Antioxidant Activities Correlation Analysis of Procyanidins from China Cultivars Litchi Pericarp commercial maturation were obtained from Guangdong province in China

Summary

Introduction

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), which is a tropical fruit of the Sapindaceae family originating from South-east Asia, is a white aril surrounded by a bright red attractive pericarp. Since 2005, litchi cultivated area was more than 6×105 hectare, and its yield was more than 1.3×106 ton per year, of which Guangdong province denominated ‘The Flora of Guangdong Litchi’[1]. Litchi extracts have attracted attention in the field of nutrition and pharmaceutical value due to their various active compounds such as anthocyanins, flavanols, phenolic and polysaccharide in aril, flower, seed and pericarp. These compounds have exhibited a dose-dependent on free-radical-scavenging activity [3]. The relation of the antioxidant activities of LPPC and the procyanidins content in litchi pericarp extract were discussed, which are essential for predicting their bioactivities and subsequent end-use in food

Plant Materials

Chemicals and Reagents

Isolation and Determination of LPPC

Comparative Antioxidant Activity of LPPC

Correlation Analysis

Conclusions