Abstract
Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites that occur naturally in all plants. Seeds are among the richest organs of plants in phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. These compounds and their biological activities are of great importance for human health. This study aimed to analyze the phenolic composition and their antioxidant activity in the seeds and epicarps of six Algerian populations of Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica growing along an aridity gradient from semi-arid to Saharan environmental conditions. Higher phenolic contents were observed in epicarp compared to seeds whatever the ecotype. The highest phenolic content of seeds and epicarps was observed in ecotype of Djelfa and the lowest values in Tiaret (T-Z). Phenolic composition, measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), showed that quercetin in epicarp, gallic and chlorogenic acids in seeds were the most present in all ecotypes. Large differences were observed between ecotypes for nutritional values. Seeds were rich in flavonoids, proteins, carbohydrates and essential elements such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus and iron. These results highlighted the potential importance of Atlas pistachio fruits as a source of essential compounds that contribute to human health. Moreover, this underused species may serve a potential source for antioxidant components for alimentation and cosmetics purposes.
Highlights
Atlas pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) is an Anacardiaceae that extends from southwestern Asia to northwestern Africa [1]
The results indicated that the quercetin was the main flavonoid constituent identified in both seed and epicarp
The results showed that the antioxidant activity determined at the seed level correlated positively and significantly with its polyphenols content (r = 0.73, p ≤ 0.05) (Figure S3)
Summary
Atlas pistachio (Pistacia atlantica Desf.) is an Anacardiaceae that extends from southwestern Asia to northwestern Africa [1]. In Algeria, this species is less known than Pistacia vera L., and grows in the wild in the sub-humid zones as well as in the Saharan regions [2]. Its oil is used for both food and cosmetic purposes [3,4]. Fruits of Atlas pistachio are widely consumed by the local population as a nutrient, and they have numerous applications in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and feed industry [5,6]. Properties such as protection against coronary heart disease, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-tumor are often associated with phenolic compounds. The different parts of this tree have traditionally been used for various purposes, providing seeds rich in nutrients and natural bioactive
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