Abstract
Mistletoes are used medicinally in order to treat various human illnesses. Few studies have reported on the phenolic content and antioxidant properties of Chinese mistletoes (CMs). In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities of soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts from CMs hosted by Camellia assamica (Mast.) Chang (CMC) and Pyrus, i, f. (CMP) were compared. Phenolic compounds in CMC and CMP were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that the TPC of soluble phenolic extracts was higher than insoluble-bound phenolic counterparts in both CMC and CMP. In addition, the TPC of soluble, insoluble-bound and total phenolic fractions (9.91 ± 0.23, 4.59 ± 0.27 and 14.50 ± 0.35 μmol ferulic acid equivalents per gram (FAE/g) dry sample) extracted from CMP were higher than those extracted from CMC. The soluble phenolic extracts in CMP showed higher antioxidant activities than those in CMC. Eighteen phenolic compounds from soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts from the CMs were identified and quantified by HPLC. This study indicates that CMC and CMP, especially the latter, could be sources of antioxidants in human health care.
Highlights
Mistletoes belonging to the order Santalales, which comprises Santalaceae, Loranthaceae, and Misodendraceae, are semi-parasites that grow on the Theaceae, Rosaceae, Moraceae and Leguminosae families [1]
Of soluble, insoluble-bound and total phenolic extracts in Chinese mistletoes (CMs) ranged from 8.65–9.91 μmol ferulic acid equivalents (FAE)/g dry sample (DS), 3.95–4.59 μmol FAE/g DS and 12.59–14.50 μmol FAE/g DS, respectively
In contrast to the results obtained in the present works, some researchers have found that the total phenolic content (TPC) of soluble phenolic extracts was lower than insoluble-bound phenolics [28,29], which may be due to the differences of bond strength between phenolic compounds and cell-wall matrix
Summary
Mistletoes belonging to the order Santalales, which comprises Santalaceae, Loranthaceae, and Misodendraceae, are semi-parasites that grow on the Theaceae, Rosaceae, Moraceae and Leguminosae families [1]. Mistletoes have been applied as traditional medicines for the treatment of cancer and some chronic diseases due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities [3,5,6,7]. The main phytoconstituents, including proteins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins and triterpenes, have been identified in mistletoes by their physicochemical properties and spectral analysis [8,9,10]. Several studies have revealed that mistletoes possess moderate antioxidant capacity due to the presence of phenolic compounds [9,10,11]. F. hosted by Camellia assamica (Mast.) Chang (CMC) and Viscum liquidambaricolum Viscum articulatum Burm. f. hosted by Camellia assamica (Mast.) Chang (CMC) and Viscum liquidambaricolum
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