Fruit mineral contents of six wild species of the North Andean Patagonia, Argentina

Genus Ribes Linn. (Grossulariaceae): A comprehensive review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and clinical applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Ribes Linn., which belongs to the Grossulariaceae family, contains 160 species distributed mainly in temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. There are 59 species in southwest, northwest and northeast China. Some species of Ribes have been used as traditional and local medicines for the treatment of glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, stomachache, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and other ailments. However, the data provided in recent years have not been collated and compared.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to summarize the current status of ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical applications, and pharmacokinetics of the genus Ribes to better understand the therapeutic potential of the genus Ribes in the future and hope to provide a relatively novel perspective for further clinical application on the genus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature on Ribes was collected through a series of scientific search engines including Elsevier, ACS, Springer, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, Wiley, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and books.

RESULTS

Ribes species have been used for detoxification, glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, stomachache, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and other ailments. These plants mainly contain phenolic glycosides, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, polysaccharides, etc. Most traditional uses are related to biological activity and have been confirmed by modern research. Pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo revealed that the extracts and pure compounds possessed significant hypolipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and antiviral activity, eyesight protection and other effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical applications described in this article explained that the Ribes species has numerous activities, and these findings will promote further action in the area of mechanism research. However, very few preclinical and clinical studies have focused on the toxicology and pharmacokinetics of crude extracts and pure compounds from the genus Ribes. Moreover, several clinical evidence to support the health benefits of Ribes plants. The development of new medicines based on Ribes species as ingredients may be restricted. The pharmacological activity, clinical efficacy and safety of Ribes species need to be verified by systematic and comprehensive preclinical studies and clinical trials.

Ribes himalense as potential source of natural bioactive compounds: Nutritional, phytochemical, and antioxidant properties

Ribes himalense Royle ex Decne. (family Saxifraaceae, subfamily Grossulariaceae, genus Ribes) is a wild berry fruit with illustrated health-promoting features, which widely distributed in Northwest China are deficiently exploited. This study aimed to assess the potential of a Ribes himalense as a source of natural bioactive compounds through characterizing its nutraceutical characteristics, phytochemicals properties, and antioxidant ability. Fresh berries were quantitatively analyzed for proximate composition, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, anthocyanins, procyanidin, and polysaccharides contents through China National Food Safety Standard; the characterization and identification of extracts of wild berries obtained with ethanol 30%, ethanol 50%, and ethanol 95% were firstly performed by UPLC-Triple-TOF-MS2. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract was evaluated via different assay methods such as DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. The results indicated that the most important bioactive composition was procyanidin (0.72%), polyphenols (0.49%), total flavonoids (0.38%), vitamin C (64.6 mg/100g FW), and K (218.44 mg/100 g FW), and a total of 95 compounds were detected with polyphenols, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins as the dominant, and also ethanol extract possessed stronger antioxidant activity. These results suggested that Ribes himalense fruit has great potential in protecting human health, with the focus on the development of functional products.

Multi-elemental Analysis, Pattern Recognition Techniques of Wild and Cultivated Rosehips from Serbia, and Nutritional Aspect

Twenty-six major and trace elements, in the seed and the mesocarp of wild and cultivated rosehips from different locations in Serbia, were quantified by means of inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The cultivated rosehip was investigated for the first time. In both wild and cultivated rosehips, the most abundant elements were K and Ca. Among trace elements, Mn (in both seed and mesocarp); Fe (in seeds); and B, Ba, and Sr (in mesocarp) were quantified in the highest concentrations. The higher content of Cu, K, Mn, P, and S in the seed of cultivated rosehip, as well as Ca, Mg, and Sr in the mesocarp of wild rosehip, was observed, both significant at p < 0.05. Additionally, differences between the seed and the mesocarp of studied rosehip were noticed in the content of B, Cu, Fe, K, Ni, P, S, Sr, and Ti (p < 0.05). Nutritional assessment revealed that both wild and cultivated rosehips are a valuable source of essential elements (Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and P). The absence of toxic and potentially toxic elements additionally contributes to the quality of studied Serbian rosehip. A high impact of factors such as variety, location, as well as their interaction on the content of elements in cultivated rosehip mesocarp and seed was observed. Pattern recognition techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied in order to provide insight into similarities among the analyzed samples.

Native and exotic plants with edible fleshy fruits utilized in Patagonia and their role as sources of local functional foods

Background

Traditionally part of the human diet, plants with edible fleshy fruits (PEFF) contain bioactive components that may exert physiological effects beyond nutrition, promoting human health and well-being. Focusing on their food-medicine functionality, different ways of using PEFF were studied in a cross-sectional way using two approaches: a bibliographical survey and an ethnobotanical case study in a rural community of Patagonia, Argentina.

Methods

A total of 42 studies were selected for the bibliographical review. The case study was carried out with 80% of the families inhabiting the rural community of Cuyín Manzano, using free listing, interviews, and participant observation. In both cases we analyzed species richness and use patterns through the edible consensus and functional consensus indices. Local foods, ailments, medicines and drug plants were also registered.

Results

The review identified 73 PEFF, the majority of which (78%) were native species, some with the highest use consensus. PEFF were used in 162 different local foods, but mainly as fresh fruit. Of the total, 42% were used in a functional way, in 54 different medicines. The principal functional native species identified in the review were Aristotelia chilensis and Berberis microphylla. In the case study 20 PEFF were in current use (50% were native), and consensus values were similar for native and exotic species. These were used in 44 different local foods, mainly as fresh fruit. Only 30% were recognized for their functional value by inhabitants (mainly as gastrointestinal and respiratory treatments). The species with the highest functional consensus were the exotic Sambucus nigra and Rosa rubiginosa, followed by the native A. chilensis, Ribes magellanicum and B. microphylla. Infusions also constituted important local functional foods.

Conclusions

This survey highlights the importance of studying the different local functional foods to depict the biocultural diversity of a human society. The preparation of different beverages and herbal medicines was relevant, and would be a promising subject to investigate in the future. The living heritage of PEFF appears to have undergone hybridization processes, such that exotic species play an increasingly significant role.

Investigation of nutritional characteristics and free radical scavenging activity of wild apple, pear, rosehip, and barberry from the walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan

This study is based on 2-year experimental results aimed at evaluating the nutritional value and pomological characteristics of wild fruits and berries from the walnut-fruit forests of southern Kyrgyzstan including apple (Malus sieversii var. kirgizorum), pear (Pyrus korshinskyi Litv.), rosehip (Rosa canina), or barberry (Berberis oblonga). Wild pear, characterised by its high level of alimentary fibres (8.76 g/100 g), offers a promising potential for industrial pectin production. Barberry features higher radical scavenging activity (antioxidant activity) as compared to Iranian and Turkish ecotypes. Among the investigated fruits and berries, barberry and rosehip represent a good source of bioactive phytochemicals due to their high phenolic, anthocyanin, vitamin C and mineral contents. Regular consumption of such wild fruits can contribute between 26 and 100% to the recommended dietary allowance of selected mineral elements (Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn) helping to combat micro-nutrient deficiency in humans.

Vaccinium myrtillus L. Fruits as a Novel Source of Phenolic Compounds with Health Benefits and Industrial Applications - A Review

Consumers' demand for healthier foods with functional properties has had a clear influence on the food industry and in this sense, they have been attaching natural sources of bioactive ingredients into food products. Vaccinium myrtillus L. (bilberry) is known to be a functional food, presenting its fruits in the form of a small dark blueberry. This coloration is due to its high content in anthocyanin, being also associated with bilberries' beneficial health effects. In the bilberry industry, there is a very high annual loss of this fruit due to the less aesthetic shape or appearance, in which they cannot be considered suitable for sale and are therefore disposed of as biological waste. Therefore, it is of great importance to valorize this fruit and this review aimed to completely characterize the fruits of V. myrtillus in order to comprehend the relationship between their consumption and the beneficial effects regarding consumer's health. Thus, this review provides a description of the nutritional and bioactive compounds present in bilberry fruits, followed by their beneficial health effects. An overview of the natural pigments present in these fruits was also explored, focusing particularly in the anthocyanins composition, which represents the most widely studied class of bioactive compounds of V. myrtillus fruits. Finally, industrial applications of these fruits and by-products, as an efficient approach to the production of value-added products with economical and environmental impact, were also discussed. In general, V. myrtillus is a rich source of micronutrients and phytochemical compounds, such as organic acids, sugars, vitamins, fibers and phenolic compounds (anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin compounds), with nutritional and functional properties, that justify the growing interest in these berries, not only for food applications, but also in the pharmaceutical industry.

A comprehensive review on fruit Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui) for modern health: towards a better understanding

Human and animal intervention studies have provided enough evidence for the protective effects of different foods rich in polyphenols against non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Though over the last decade South American berries, rich sources of polyphenols, especially maqui, have become the subject of research interest due to their remarkable potential health benefits, yet so far very limited studies have been conducted on the effect of maqui berry on non-communicable diseases, and information about its domestication is also still deficient. This comprehensive review focuses on the health potential of maqui, especially on its effect on non-communicable diseases. It is anticipated that this article will extend our understanding of the maqui-health benefit relationship. More detailed and long term in vivo intervention and in vitro studies are needed to fully understand how maqui interacts with human physiological and pathological processes, considering the rapid increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

Fruit phytochemical composition and color parameters of 21 accessions of five Rosa species grown in North West Iran

BACKGROUND

The genus Rosa comprises economically important horticultural plants belonging to the family Rosaceae. Recently, the use of different Rosa species has increased owing to their multipurpose properties (ornamental, food and medicinal uses). In this study, 21 accessions of Rosa genotypes were compared for fruit phytochemical composition and color parameters.

RESULTS

The highest antioxidant activity (37.86 mg AAE g^-1 FW) and total phenolic (8.17 mg GAE g^-1 FW), total flavonoid (2.53 mg QUE g^-1 FW), total carotenoid (20.21 mg g^-1 FW) and ascorbic acid (84.27 mg g^-1 FW) contents were observed in G20 (R. canina), G8 (R. canina), G9 (R. canina), G5 (R. damascena) and G10 (R. moschata) respectively. Chlorogenic acid and gallic acid were found as the main phenolic constituents of Rosa fruits. High amounts of apigenin, rutin, quercetin, p-coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid were obtained in fruit extracts of G6, G14, G6, G8, G19, G9, G19 and G12 respectively. Moreover, the level of color parameters also varied among genotypes. The highest values of a*, b*, L* and chroma were obtained in G4 (R. canina). Based on hierarchical clustering analysis with heat-map, five groups of accessions were identified.

CONCLUSION

Different Rosa genotypes are rich in certain phytochemical compounds, with significant variations in their levels being observed. Hence evaluation of Rosa genetic resources can supply valuable data for screening accessions containing high levels of individual phenolics, antioxidants and other bioactive compounds for use in breeding programs and food and pharma industries. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessment of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations in soil and parts of Rosa spp. sampled in extremely polluted environment

This research was conducted in order to determine As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn concentrations in soil and parts of wild rose (Rosa spp., predominantly Rosa canina L.) in the Bor area, known for more than 100 years of mining and pyrometallurgical production of copper, as well as to determine the possibility of its usage as an environmental indicator or for phytoremediation. The results showed that the sampled soils were highly contaminated with As and Cu, since the obtained concentrations exceeded the corresponding limit and remediation values. The soil samples from the sites which were closest to the Mining-Metallurgical Complex or in the prevailing wind directions were most enriched with the analyzed elements. According to the element analysis in the parts of Rosa spp., branches, leaves, and roots contained higher concentrations of the studied elements than the fruits. Based on the values of the biological factors, it can be concluded that Rosa spp. restricted the absorption of the elements from the soil. Since the absorption rates from soil to roots were low for all the studied elements, Rosa spp. was not suitable for the phytoextraction or phytostabilization. Statistically significant positive correlations of the elements in the soil and parts of Rosa spp. indicated their anthropogenic origin. Differences in the element concentrations in the plant parts and the soil samples from the background and the sites which were under the influence of the emissions from the Mining-Metallurgical Complex indicated that Rosa spp. had a potential for usage in biomonitoring.

Biogeochemical characteristics of Rosa canina grown in hydrothermally contaminated soils of the Gümüşhane Province, Northeast Turkey

Kırkpavli alteration area (Gümüşhane, Northeast Turkey) is contaminated by heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, As, Cu and Zn. The quantity of accumulation of heavy metal trace elements and macroelements in 32 leaves of Rosa canina of the Kırkpavli alteration area has been studied within the scope of geochemical studies. Element contents of samples were assessed using various parameters including descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation coefficients and bioaccumulation factor. Concentrations were detected in the acceptable range for Mo, Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Cd, Sb, P, Ti, Na, Se and Sn. Concentrations of Co, Mn, Ba and Hg were detected close to the acceptable values, whereas Zn, Fe, Sr, V, Ca, Cr, Mg, B, Al, K, W, Sc, Cs and Rb concentrations were detected above the acceptable values. Principal component analysis was used to identify the elements that have a close relationship with each other and/or similar origins. It has been concluded that Zn, Cu, As and Mo content of the plant were related to hydrothermal alteration process and they behaved together, whereas Mn and Fe were especially products of weathering conditions, also behaved together. In terms of macroelements, Ca, Mg and Na had similar behaviour, while P and K had the same correlation.

Nutritional profile and productivity of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in different habitats of a protected area of the eastern Italian Alps

Plant productivity and fruit quality in terms of occurrence of mineral elements and metabolites were determined on wild bilberry growing in open and forest stands in a protected area of N-Italy. Plant productivity was significantly higher in open stands (3 ± 2.5 compared with 0.03 ± 0.05 fruits per plant) suggesting that both collections in the wild and semi-wild cultivation should be planned in open habitats. Results obtained by ionomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that high quality fruits can be collected in the analyzed area and their nutritional profile did not differ between open and forest stands. Cyanidin and delphinidin proportion of bilberries from our study area was respectively 23.8% and 43.9% of total antocyanin and it is similar to that previously considered peculiar to bilberry fruits of high latitude regions of Europe and indicative of high quality food properties. A comparison between wild bilberry collected in the protected area and commercial blueberry was also performed and relevant differences between them detected, confirming the concept that wild bilberry has a better nutritional profile than blueberry.