Nutraceutical Value of Black Cherry Prunus serotina Ehrh. Fruits: Antioxidant and Antihypertensive Properties

Dulce Rivera-Pastrana,Juana Rojas-Molina,César Ibarra-Alvarado,Adriana Rojas-Molina,Alejandra Rojas-Molina,Ángel Miguel Zavala-Sánchez,Elhadi Yahia,Francisco Luna-Vázquez

doi:10.3390/molecules181214597

Dulce Rivera-Pastrana, Juana Rojas-Molina + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules181214597

Copy DOI

Abstract

In Mexico black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) fruits are consumed fresh, dried or prepared in jam. Considering the evidence that has linked intake of fruits and vegetables rich in polyphenols to cardiovascular risk reduction, the aim of this study was to characterize the phenolic profile of black cherry fruits and to determine their antioxidant, vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects. The proximate composition and mineral contents of these fruits were also assessed. Black cherry fruits possess a high content of phenolic compounds and display a significant antioxidant capacity. High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis indicated that hyperoside, anthocyanins and chlorogenic acid were the main phenolic compounds found in these fruits. The black cherry aqueous extract elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation of aortic rings and induced a significant reduction on systolic blood pressure in L-NAME induced hypertensive rats after four weeks of treatment. Proximate analysis showed that black cherry fruits have high sugar, protein, and potassium contents. The results derived from this study indicate that black cherry fruits contain phenolic compounds which elicit significant antioxidant and antihypertensive effects. These findings suggest that these fruits might be considered as functional foods useful for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Highlights

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasing throughout the world and are responsible for 34% of annual deaths that occur in low and middle-income countries [1]
The latter species were selected for comparative purposes since they are widely consumed fruits, rich in phenolics and with significant antioxidant capacity [6]
The contents of K, Ca, Mg, and P in black cherry fruit were significantly higher than those in plum and grape (Table 2, p < 0.05). It means that black cherry fruit represents a complementary source of these minerals for Central Mexican diet

Summary

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are increasing throughout the world and are responsible for 34% of annual deaths that occur in low and middle-income countries [1]. A substantial body of evidence have linked intake of fruits and vegetables rich in polyphenolic compounds to cardiovascular risk reduction [5]. This beneficial effect is greatly attributed to the high antioxidant properties of polyphenols [6,7]. It has been demonstrated that these secondary metabolites have vasodilator [12] and antihypertensive properties [13,14], which involve other mechanisms apart from their antioxidant activity [15] In this context, Mexico, with its floristic and cultural richness, provides a valuable source of plants with nourishing and medicinal properties. One of the plants whose use by the Mexican people dates from before the Spanish conquest is Prunus serotina Ehrh. (Rosaceae), a 60 to 90 foot-tall native North American tree with edible fruits [16]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion