Bioactive compounds from Brazilian strawberry cultivars (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.): Characterization and bioavailability of ellagic acid derivatives

Author(s)

Marcia da Silva Pinto

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2008-11-25

Examining board members

Maria Inês Genovese; Ian Castro Gamboa; Neuza Mariko Aymoto Hassimotto; Antonio Salatino; Kalidas Shetty

• Advisor: Maria Inês Genovese

Abstract

Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, flavonoids and ellagic acid derivatives and are consumed in Brazil in large quantities. The objectives of the present work were: characterization of different cultivars with respect to the content of bioactive compounds, optimization of the method for quantification of total ellagic acid content, purification and structural identification of ellagitannins, evaluation of their antiproliferative, anti-type 2 diabetes and anti-hypertension potentials, investigation of their in vivo bioavailability. The results indicated that there were significant differences in bioactive compounds among the strawberry cultivars. The best conditions for the determination of the total ellagic acid content in strawberries were extraction with 80% acetone, and hydrolysis using 2N TFA at 120 °C for 60 minutes. The precipitation method using ytterbium acetate was the most efficient in purifying the ellagitannins. After administration of purified ellagitannins to rats by gavage, no compound was detected in plasma or tissue samples analyzed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 05/02055-0 - Bioactive compounds of Brazilian strawberry cultivars (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.): characterization and bioavailability determination of ellagic acid derivatives
• Grantee: Marcia da Silva Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)