title: Flavonoid profile of Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) and their health promoting effects.
abstract: Flavonoids are a significant group of secondary metabolites in plants. Many of these compounds are potent antioxidants, being an important part in food products derived from the plants. The current status of research on flavonoid compounds in the fruit of Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) and their health promoting effects, including recommended utilization, are reviewed. The major classes of flavonoids in the fruit are flavonols (quercetin and rutin), flavanes (proanthocyanidin compounds ranging from dimers through to heptamers and even higher polymers) and finally anthocyanins. The flavonoids represented the group of polyphenols that mostly contributed to the antioxidant activity of Saskatoon berries. High content of the flavoinoids antioxidants in the fruit is responsible for the observed anti-inflammatory, antidiadiabetic and chemo-protective effects.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Education of Pedagogics, Faculty of Central European Studies, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Drazovska 4, SK-949 74 Nitra, Slovak Republic. tjurikova@ukf.sk.
authors.forename: Tunde
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Juríková
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balla
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sochor
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pohanka
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mlcek
authors.forename: Mojmir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts