Interspecific Variation between the American Quercus virginiana and Mediterranean Quercus Species in Terms of Seed Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Content, and Antioxidant Activity.

José Valero-Galván,Raquel González-Fernández,Jesús V Jorrin-Novo

doi:10.3390/molecules26082351

José Valero-Galván, Raquel González-Fernández + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082351

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate a complete nutritional composition in the seeds Quercus virginiana to compare this nutritional composition with three Mediterranean Quercus species. We analyzed the seed morphometry, proximate composition, phytochemicals, and antioxidant capacity. The seed of Q. virginiana presented the smaller seed size and weight, while Q. suber presented the highest values. Moreover, Q. virginiana seeds showed the highest amounts of sugar and total lipids, digestibility, energy, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. On the other hand, Q. virginiana seeds showed the lowest values of linoleic acid. Moreover, Q. coccifera seeds presented the highest total phenolics and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity. The clustering analysis revealed a significant similarity in seed morphometry and nutritional composition between the Mediterranean Q. ilex and Q. suber, grouping with the American Q. virginiana, but to a considerable distance; by contrast, the Mediterranean Q. coccifera was the most distant in the clustering analysis. The content of phenolics and flavonoids and digestibility value were the variables that contributed to the separation to a greater extent in the clustering of the four species. The nutritional and biological activity assessment of plant seed may be considered as an essential mission to find new sustainable sources and novel chemical agents. In this sense, Quercus seeds may be an alternative and a competitive food source for the agri-food industry.

Highlights

Forest trees have enormous economic and ecological importance worldwide, but they will be seriously affected by climate change [1]
The morphometry analysis acorns from ballota collected from the Cáceres of acorns from Q. coccifera, Q. suber, and Q. ilex subsp. ballota collected from the Cáceres province, Extremadura
We presented a close comparison between the American Q. virginiana and three Mediterranean Quercus species in terms of their morphometry and nutritional composition

Summary

Introduction

Forest trees have enormous economic and ecological importance worldwide, but they will be seriously affected by climate change [1]. Those species producing recalcitrant seeds will be susceptible to the increasing intensity and frequency of drought episodes predicted by global climate changes [2]. In this context, one group of forest plants that could be affected is the Quercus genus, whose seeds are recalcitrant, and it grows in areas where models have predicted climate changes.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion