Abstract
Abstract Acorns produced by Quercus trees are currently underexploited and undervalued. To evaluate the commercial and health benefits of acorns, we examined the cell wall components of acorn pericarps from Quercus suber and Quercus ilex, growing in North-Western Algeria. Acorn pericarps were sequentially extracted and the polysaccharide fractions were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The lignocellulosic fraction was the major component of Q. suber and Q. ilex cell walls (37.19% and 48.95%, respectively). Lower amounts of pectins and hemicelluloses were also found in both species. Hemicellulose extracts from the two species contained xylose as the major monosaccharide (ranging from 36.7% to 49.4%). Galacturonic acid was the major component of hot water- or ammonium oxalate-extracted pectins from both species (ranging from 20.6% to 46.8%). The results reported in this paper reveal that acorn pericarp cell walls from these two oak could be potential sources of bioactive compounds.
Highlights
The genus Quercus spp. is one of the most species-rich genus among forest trees
The results reported in this paper reveal that acorn pericarp cell walls from these two oak could be potential sources of bioactive compounds
Cell walls are important for the growth and the development of plants; they provide a significant barrier to diseases, making them targets for improving the post-harvest storage and processing of the fruits
Summary
The genus Quercus spp. is one of the most species-rich genus among forest trees. This genus consists of several hundred species which grow in temperate, as well as in Mediterranean climates, in America, Europe, and Asia[1].In Algeria, oak trees represent an important forest resource, as they account for nearly 40% of the Algerian forest, and play important ecological, economic roles. The genus Quercus spp. is one of the most species-rich genus among forest trees. This genus consists of several hundred species which grow in temperate, as well as in Mediterranean climates, in America, Europe, and Asia[1]. In Algeria the local population uses the fruit of Quercus as a traditional food resource[2]. Cell walls are important for the growth and the development of plants; they provide a significant barrier to diseases, making them targets for improving the post-harvest storage and processing of the fruits. Studies evaluating how plants synthesize and remodel their cell walls constitute an important and expanding area of research, in the renewable energy field[4]
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