The consumption of fruits and vegetables has been inversely associated with morbidity and mortality from degenerative diseases. Citrus spp. are the most important commercial fruit crops grown in all continents of the world. It includes different types of fruits and products, important source of bioactive compounds including antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and pectins that are important for the human nutrition. It is well known that plant-derived polyphenols have remarkable antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities resulting in multiple beneficial effects in the human health. The antimicrobial abilities are an interesting field for applications within pharmaceutical and food supplement industries. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the antioxidant and the antimicrobial activities of the juices of 15 clementine cultivars. Thirteen cultivars of Clementine mandarins and two hybrids and Mandalate obtained were investigated. Three assays were used to measure the antioxidant, radical scavenging and antiperoxidative activities of juice extracts: FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), ABTS radical and Beta- Carotene bleaching (BCB) assays. The values of antioxidant capacity in each data set were transformed into a standard scores so the data can be compared. The mean of all standard scores determines the relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI). The antimicrobial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration were evaluated against selected bacterial strains by using the agar well diffusion assay. A total of thirty-two gramnegative and gram-positive bacteria were employed as screening microorganisms for this study. Antimicrobial effect and action spectrum of each juice were ALSO evaluated. The study thus revealed that CAF cultivar had the highest antioxidant activity; a considerable value was observed for FED and RA89 cultivars. Instead ORO cultivar showed the lowest RACI. The results showed that no antimicrobial activity was demonstrated by the different citrus extracts against the tested bacteria, but the MAN extract that had an antimicrobial effect on some gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Our results confirmed the antioxidant activity of Citrus clementina juices, underling wide differences between them, but they also demonstrated that none but MAN juice possess a relevant antimicrobial activity, especially against pathogen bacteria tested. This findings can be helpful in selecting possible extracts to be used as food supplements for antioxidant and/or antimicrobial purposes.

Nutraceutical properties of Citrus clementina juices

RUSSO, DANIELA;BONOMO, MARIA GRAZIA;SALZANO, Giovanni;MARTELLI, Giuseppe Biagio Giovanni;MILELLA, LUIGI
2012-01-01

Abstract

The consumption of fruits and vegetables has been inversely associated with morbidity and mortality from degenerative diseases. Citrus spp. are the most important commercial fruit crops grown in all continents of the world. It includes different types of fruits and products, important source of bioactive compounds including antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and pectins that are important for the human nutrition. It is well known that plant-derived polyphenols have remarkable antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities resulting in multiple beneficial effects in the human health. The antimicrobial abilities are an interesting field for applications within pharmaceutical and food supplement industries. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the antioxidant and the antimicrobial activities of the juices of 15 clementine cultivars. Thirteen cultivars of Clementine mandarins and two hybrids and Mandalate obtained were investigated. Three assays were used to measure the antioxidant, radical scavenging and antiperoxidative activities of juice extracts: FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), ABTS radical and Beta- Carotene bleaching (BCB) assays. The values of antioxidant capacity in each data set were transformed into a standard scores so the data can be compared. The mean of all standard scores determines the relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI). The antimicrobial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration were evaluated against selected bacterial strains by using the agar well diffusion assay. A total of thirty-two gramnegative and gram-positive bacteria were employed as screening microorganisms for this study. Antimicrobial effect and action spectrum of each juice were ALSO evaluated. The study thus revealed that CAF cultivar had the highest antioxidant activity; a considerable value was observed for FED and RA89 cultivars. Instead ORO cultivar showed the lowest RACI. The results showed that no antimicrobial activity was demonstrated by the different citrus extracts against the tested bacteria, but the MAN extract that had an antimicrobial effect on some gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Our results confirmed the antioxidant activity of Citrus clementina juices, underling wide differences between them, but they also demonstrated that none but MAN juice possess a relevant antimicrobial activity, especially against pathogen bacteria tested. This findings can be helpful in selecting possible extracts to be used as food supplements for antioxidant and/or antimicrobial purposes.
2012
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11563/28815
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