engleski

Variation in the phytochemicals content and antioxidant activity of Vaccinium myrtillus populations collected in Croatia and Montenegro

Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae (bilberry) leaf is traditionally used in southeastern Europe for the treatment of diabetes. In the present study, the variation of the phytochemical composition, antiradical and tyrosinase-inhibiting activity of 11 bilberry populations from Croatia (5) and Montenegro (6) was investigated with the aim of their use for cosmetic purposes. Content of phenols, flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as antiradical and enzyme inhibiting activity of leaf extracts was determined spectrophotometrically. The content of the most abundant flavonoid, hyperoside, was determined using HPLC with DAD detection. Furthermore, the content of selected metals (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr) was determined using TXRF. Outstanding quantitative variability of total phenols (386.8 – 133.9 mg/g), flavonoids (83.1-12.0 mg/g) and phenolic acids 112.4-38.0 mg/g) was recorded. The extracts displayed excellent antiradical activity (IC50 between 120.8-11.1 g/g) and somewhat weaker anti-tyrosinase activity (IC50 between 400.3-170.9 g/g). Hyperoside content in the extracts varied between 73.1 and 5.7 mg/g. There were no statistically significant differences between the measured variables according to the country of origin. However, the chromatograms of Montenegro extracts could be easily distinguished from the Croatian ones by the presence of additional peak in chromatogram, which, according to its UV spectrum, belonged to a quercetin derivative. The observed activities of bilberry leaf extracts suggest that they might be used in cosmetic products. However, before the development of such products, a detailed analysis of plant material is advisable in order to select the populations with the highest potential activity.

Vaccinium myrtillus, fitokemijski sastav, metali, antioksidativni učinak

nije evidentirano