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Wild edible fruits as a potential source of phytochemicals with capacity to inhibit lipid peroxidation
Author(s) -
Morales Patricia,
Ferreira Isabel C.F.R.,
Carvalho Ana Maria,
FernándezRuiz Virginia,
SánchezMata Mª Cortes,
Cámara Montaña,
Morales Ramón,
Tardío Javier
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of lipid science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.614
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1438-9312
pISSN - 1438-7697
DOI - 10.1002/ejlt.201200162
Subject(s) - lipid peroxidation , chemistry , food science , antioxidant , vitamin e , tbars , rubus , polyunsaturated fatty acid , biochemistry , botany , biology , fatty acid
The edible fruits of four wild small trees or shrubs ( Arbutus unedo , Crataegus monogyna , Prunus spinosa , and Rubus ulmifolius ) traditionally consumed in the Iberian Peninsula were studied to evaluate their potential for human nutrition, considering their content in bioactive compounds. Lipophilic phytochemicals, such as fatty acids and tocopherols, as well as some hydrophilic antioxidants, such as vitamin C and organic acids, were analyzed. In addition, the antioxidant activity, measured as lipid peroxidation inhibition (β‐carotene/linoleate and TBARS assays), was evaluated in each fruit. As far as we know, this is the first report relating to bioactive compounds in wild fruits with relation to the lipid peroxidation inhibition. Data revealed that these wild edible fruits are good sources of bioactive compounds as organic acids, vitamin C, tocopherols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. They could be considered as functional foods or potential sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant synergism effect, to be included as antioxidant food ingredients or in dietary supplements, mainly Rubus ulmifolius , due to its high content in tocopherols. This study provides useful and relevant information that justify tocopherols influence in the prevention of lipid peroxidation, due to the strong correlation observed ( r >0.95) between these lipophilic bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity.