Abstract
The berries of Rubus discolor are considered a rich source of phytochemicals which could play an important role in the prevention of prevalent contemporary chronic diseases. Thus, the goal of the presented study was to determine the profile of phenolic acids and anthocyanins of aqueous and ethanol extracts of R. discolor fruit, and their free radical scavenging, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antimicrobial activities. LC-MS/MS analyses confirmed the presence of 11 phenolic acids with protocatechuic and gallic acids being the major compounds. Additionally, cyanidin- glucoside/galactoside was the most abundant among the five identified anthocyanins. The ethanol extract was more efficient in scavenging free radicals than the aqueous extract. The absence of antiproliferative activity was observed for both extracts. However, they inhibited carbohydrate hydrolysing digestive enzymes associated with type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, the obtained results for ?-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 values 44.52 and 80.72 ?g/mL, for the aqueous and ethanol extracts, respectively) indicate significantly higher activity than the positive control, GlucobayR (233.38 ?g/mL). The ethanol extract was more effective against all of the examined bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter cloacae) than the aqueous extract. On the contrary, the aqueous extract showed better antifungal properties, particularly against Trihoderma viride and Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium. The quantified phenolics and presented bioactivities of R. discolor fruit extracts candidate them as a potential source of bioactive compounds which might be used in the food, pharmacy and cosmetic industries.
Highlights
The Rosaceae Juss. family is of great economic importance since many species produce edible fruits
The four hydroxybenzoic acids – p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, vanillic and gallic acid were quantified in the extracts, while the concentration of 2.5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was beyond the limit of quantification (LOQ)
The total amount of anthocyanins detected in the ethanol extract (3131 mg of cyanidin equivalents/100 g of dry extract) was much higher than in the aqueous extract (745 mg of cyanidin equivalents/100 g), and was much higher than the amount of detected phenolic acids
Summary
The Rosaceae Juss. family is of great economic importance since many species produce edible fruits. Family is of great economic importance since many species produce edible fruits. According to The Plant List (2013), the genus Rubus L., one of the most numerous genera of this family, encompasses 1568 species, while the possibility of a threefold higher number remains unresolved. Most Rubus species are perennial deciduous shrubs, growing in the wild or cultivated on all continents with the exception of Antarctica (Heslop-Harrison 1968; Alice & Campbell 1999; Krivošej et al 2018). Archaeological and ethnobotanical studies indicate its centuries-old usage for food and medicinal purposes (Hummer 2010). The attractive colour and taste of Rubus fruits together with raised consumer awareness of their potential health benefits have recently increased the interest and demand for these fruits on the global market (Schulz & Chim 2019).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call