Chemical and biological insights on Cotoneaster integerrimus: A new (-)- epicatechin source for food and medicinal applications.

BACKGROUND

The Cotoneaster species are widely used as traditional purposes in different countries including Turkey.

OBJECTIVE

The study was performed to evaluate the biological and chemical profile of two extracts (methanol (T-Me; F-Me) and water (T-W; F-W)) from two parts (twigs and fruits) of Cotoneaster integerrimus.

METHODS

Antioxidant (free radical scavenging (DPPH), reducing power (CUPRAC and FRAP), phosphomolybdenum and metal chelating), enzyme inhibitory (cholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase), antimicrobial (standard microorganisms and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates (MRSA)) and mutagenic/antimutagenic effects (by Ames assay) were tested for biological profile. For chemical profile, total and individual phenolic components were detected for each extract.

RESULTS

Generally, T-Me reflected the strongest biological effects with the highest level of phenolics (115. 15 mgGAEs/g extract). Also, twig extracts had more potent biological effects as compared to flower extracts. Eight-teen phenolics were identified in the extracts. (-)- epicatechin was the major constituent in all extracts and is mainly responsible for biological activities observed. Its amount present in F-W and T-W were 9.27 and 32.89mg/g extract, respectively. Also, molecular docking was used to understand enzyme-epicatechin interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

From these results, this plant has a great potential as a health promoter for developing novel functional food ingredients and pharmaceutical preparations.