Abstract

Many species of the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae) are popular edibles throughout the tropical and subtropical world. In addition, some are used medicinally in divergent traditional practices from South America to Southeast Asia. The fruits of two species of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) have shown a strong antioxidant activity in the 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and subsequent ethnomedical and chemotaxonomic study of related plants in the subtribe Eugeniinae have led to the hypothesis that these fruits contain flavonoids or other polyphenolic compounds that exhibit an oxidative protection to biomolecules in humans. The fruits of ten popular edible species from this taxa will be analyzed for antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay. The most active extracts will be studied in greater detail to isolate and identify specific polyphenolic antioxidant phytochemicals. It is expected that novel antioxidant compounds will be discovered, and their chemical structures will be fully elucidated. This research will then use the analytical tools developed to look closely at beverages and vinegar made from the most active fruit to ascertain whether the beneficial phytochemicals in the fruit can be detected in commercial products.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31AT000801-03
Application #
6656315
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAT1-H (09))
Program Officer
Hopp, Craig
Project Start
2002-09-17
Project End
2006-09-16
Budget Start
2003-09-17
Budget End
2004-09-16
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$30,928
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Herbert H. Lehman College
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
620128301
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10468

  Publications

Zhang, Yan; Long, Zhen; Guo, Zhimou et al. (2016) Hydroxycinnamic acid amides from Scopolia tangutica inhibit the activity of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in vitro. Fitoterapia 108:9-12
Zhang, Yan; Wang, Chaoran; Guo, Zhimou et al. (2014) Discovery of N-methyltetrahydroprotoberberines with ?-opioid receptor agonists-opioid receptor agonist activities from corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang by using two-dimensional liquid chromatography. J Ethnopharmacol 155:1597-602
Flores, Gema; Dastmalchi, Keyvan; Wu, Shi-Biao et al. (2013) Phenolic-rich extract from the Costa Rican guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) pulp with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Potential for COPD therapy. Food Chem 141:889-95
Flores, Gema; Dastmalchi, Keyvan; Paulino, Sturlainny et al. (2012) Anthocyanins from Eugenia brasiliensis edible fruits as potential therapeutics for COPD treatment. Food Chem 134:1256-62
Jiang, Bei; Lyles, James T; Reynertson, Kurt A et al. (2008) Stability evaluation of selected polyphenols and triterpene glycosides in black cohosh. J Agric Food Chem 56:9510-9
Yang, Hui; Jiang, Bei; Reynertson, Kurt A et al. (2006) Comparative analyses of bioactive Mammea coumarins from seven parts of Mammea americana by HPLC-PDA with LC-MS. J Agric Food Chem 54:4114-20
Reynertson, Kurt A; Wallace, Alison M; Adachi, Seiji et al. (2006) Bioactive depsides and anthocyanins from jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora). J Nat Prod 69:1228-30
Reynertson, Kurt A; Balick, Michael J; Lee, Roberta et al. (2005) A traditional method of Cinnamomum carolinense preparation eliminates safrole from a therapeutic Pohnpean tea. J Ethnopharmacol 102:269-74