title: Chemical composition and bioactivity of dried fruits and honey of Ficus carica cultivars Dottato, San Francesco and Citrullara.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to evaluate, for the first time, the chemical profile, antioxidant properties and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of dried fruits and honey of Ficus carica (fig) cultivars Dottato, Citrullara, and San Francesco.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of fig extracts identified terpenes, sterols and fatty acids as major constituents. The aroma profile of honey obtained from a mixture of the three cultivars was investigated by solid-phase micro-extraction/GC-MS. 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarboxaldehyde, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone were the main compounds. Total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin content are also reported. The San Francesco cultivar is characterised by the highest phenol and flavonoid content, while Dottato showed the major anthocyanin content. The Dottato cultivar exhibited the best radical scavenging activity against both 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals (IC50 values of 5.4 and 22.6 µg mL(-1) , respectively). This cultivar also showed the highest inhibitory activity against both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, with IC50 values of 26.9 and 31.8 µg mL(-1) , respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dried figs are a convenient source of bioactive compounds that demonstrated potential neuroprotection and antioxidant effects. Therefore, the addition of figs to the human diet should be recommended by dieticians and nutritionists.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87030, Rende, (CS), Italy.
authors: Monica R
authors: MR
authors: Loizzo
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Bonesi
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Pugliese
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Menichini
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Tundis
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003890:Desiccation; D004032:Diet; D004593:Electrophorus; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D013729:Terpenes; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase
keywords: Ficus carica; SPME/GC-MS; antioxidant properties; cholinesterase inhibition; dried fruits; honey