title: Report: antioxidant and nutraceutical value of wild medicinal Rubus berries.
abstract: Nutritional quality and antioxidant capacity of three edible wild berries (Rubus ellipticus Smith, Rubus niveus Thunb, Rubus ulmifolius L.) from Lesser Himalayan Range (LHR) were evaluated. Their edible portion was assayed for moisture, fats, ash, carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, essential minerals (Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Cl, S, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Se, Co, Ni) and DPPH free radical scavenging activity was applied to determine the antioxidant potential. The fruit of Rubus ulmifolius L. (blackberry) possessed the highest values of energy (403.29 Kcal), total protein (6.56g/100 g), Nitrogen (N) content (1500mg/100g), K (860.17mg/100g), Ca (620.56mg/100g), Zn (17.509mg/100g) and the strongest antioxidant activity (98.89% inhibition). While the raspberries (Rubus ellipticus Smith, Rubus niveus Thunb.) exhibited more significant contents of dietary fiber (5.90g/100g), carbohydrates (86.4 g/100 g) and Fe (4.249mg/100g). Significant variation was observed among the tested samples in all the investigated features. The combination of bio elements and active antioxidants clearly showed the applicability of these berries as a nutraceutical supplement.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, University Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia / Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mushtaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, University Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia / Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: Faculte des Sciences, University Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco.
authors.forename: Taibi Ben
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hadda
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy-Department of Pharmacognosy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudia Arabia.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafar
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D065856:Rubus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D010851:Picrates; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl