In vitro study on the antioxidant activity of a polyphenol-rich extract from pinus brutia bark and its fractions

Elena Cretu, Maarit Karonen, Juha Pekka Salminen, Cornelia Mircea, Adriana Trifan, Christiana Charalambous, Andreas I. Constantinou, Anca Miron

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A crude hydromethanolic extract from Pinus brutia bark and its fractions (diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions) were studied with regard to their phenolic content and antioxidant activities. The total phenolics and proanthocyanidins in each extract were quantified by spectrophotometric methods; the polyphenolic profile was analyzed by RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. All extracts were tested with regard to their ability to scavenge free radicals (ABTS radical cation, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals), reduce ferric ions, and inhibit 15-lipoxygenase. P. brutia bark extracts had high phenolic contents (303.79±7.34-448.90±1.39 mg/g). Except diethyl ether extract, all other extracts contained proanthocyanidins ranging from 225.79±3.94 to 250.40±1.44 mg/g. Several polyphenols were identified by RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS: taxifolin in diethyl ether extract, a taxifolin-O-hexoside, catechin, procyanidin dimers, and trimers in ethyl acetate extract. Except diethyl ether extract, all other extracts were effective scavengers of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals (EC50=33.5±1.1-54. 93±2.85 μg/mL and 0.47±0.06-0.6±0.0 mg/mL, respectively). All extracts had noticeable 15-lipoxygenase inhibitory effects (EC50=22.47±0.75-34.43±2.25 μg/mL). We conclude that P. brutia bark is very promising for the dietary supplements industry due to its high free radical scavenging and 15-lipoxygenase inhibitory effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)984-991
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Medicinal Food
Volume16
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2013

Keywords

  • 15-lipoxygenase
  • Calabrian pine
  • Hydroxyl radical
  • Proanthocyanidins
  • RP-HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS
  • Superoxide anion radical
  • Taxifolin

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