Edible Flowers: A Rich Source of Phytochemicals with Antioxidant and Hypoglycemic Properties.
Edible flowers are receiving renewed interest as rich sources of bioactive compounds. Ethanol extracts of eight edible flowers were phytochemically characterized and investigated for their bioactivity. Rutin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and myricetin were selected as standards and quantified by HPLC. The fatty acid profile was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by using different in vitro tests. The hypoglycemic effects were investigated via the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Sambucus nigra exhibited the highest radical-scavenging activity (IC50 of 1.4 μg/mL), followed by Hedysarum coronarium (IC50 of 1.6 μg/mL). Both species contained high quercetin and rutin contents. S. nigra extract exerted the highest activity in preventing lipid oxidation. Malva sylvestris extract inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 7.8 and 11.3 μg/mL, respectively. These findings support the consumption of edible flowers as functional foods and their use as sources of natural antioxidants by the food industry.
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria , 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
Monica Rosa
MR
Loizzo
Department of Food Science, University of Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze, 43124 Parma, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Pugliese
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria , 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
Marco
M
Bonesi
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria , 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
Maria Concetta
MC
Tenuta
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria , 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
Francesco
F
Menichini
Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University , Taipa, Macau.|Institut für Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie, Universität Würzburg , Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
Jianbo
J
Xiao
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria , 87036 Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
Rosa
R
Tundis
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000032:analysis; D047311:Luteolin / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011794:Quercetin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012431:Rutin / Q000032:analysis; D027924:Sambucus nigra / Q000737:chemistry; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005419:Flavonoids; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D044949:Kaempferols; D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010851:Picrates; D012431:Rutin; C006552:kaempferol; C040015:myricetin; D011794:Quercetin; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D047311:Luteolin
antioxidant activity; carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes; edible flowers; fatty acids; flavonoids