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Red-fleshed Apples: Old Autochthonous Fruits as a Novel Source of Anthocyanin Antioxidants

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Abstract

In order to promote breeding programs and a full reintroduction into production of two local red-fleshed apple varieties grown in Bekran and Bastam (Iran), the evaluation of their antioxidant properties was of interest. LC-MSn based metabolic fingerprinting analyses were applied to investigate the anthocyanin content of both peel and flesh components of the fruits. Cyanidin-3-O-hexoside isomers were present in both ‘Bekran’ and ‘Bastam’ apples, whereas ‘Bekran’ apple was a valuable source of anthocyanin rutinose derivatives. Employing DPPH•, ABTS•+, and ORAC methods, the antiradical efficacy was evaluated. The ability of the investigated fruit components to scavenge OH•, and O2 •- reactive species was also assessed. ID50 values highlighted the massive antioxidant response of ‘Bekran’ peel component, able to counteract by 50 % OH•, and O2 •- at 130.3 and 91.6 μg/mL, respectively. The cytoprotective screening towards HeLa, HepG2, A549, SH-5YSY, and SK-N-BE(2)-C cell lines evidenced that the investigated Iranian red-fleshed apple fruits were able to exert a significant antioxidant response in hydrogen peroxide oxidized cell systems. Data collected suggested that the revaluation of ‘Bekran’ and ‘Bastam’ apple cultivars could represent a precious source of antioxidant compounds whose dietary intake could improve the human well-being reducing risks of free radical related chronic and degenerative diseases.

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Abbreviations

ABTS:

2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt

AAPH:

2,2′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride

DPPH:

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl 

LC-MS:

Liquid romatography mass spectrometry

MTT:

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide

ORAC:

Oxygen radical absorbance capacity

TEAC:

Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity

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Acknowledgments

ESI-MS spectra were obtained using a LC-TQ MS instrument of the CRdC ‘Analisi e Monitoraggio del Rischio Ambientale’ AMRA (P.O.R. 2000-2006, Misura 3.16).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticultural Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Shadab Faramarzi & Abbas Yadollahi

  2. Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, I-81100, Caserta, Italy

    Severina Pacifico, Annamaria Lettieri, Paola Nocera & Simona Piccolella

Authors
  1. Shadab Faramarzi
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  2. Severina Pacifico
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  3. Abbas Yadollahi
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  4. Annamaria Lettieri
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  5. Paola Nocera
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  6. Simona Piccolella
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Severina Pacifico.

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Faramarzi, S., Pacifico, S., Yadollahi, A. et al. Red-fleshed Apples: Old Autochthonous Fruits as a Novel Source of Anthocyanin Antioxidants. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 70, 324–330 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-015-0497-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-015-0497-2

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