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  • Protective effect of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) fruit against oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes
    Publication . Magalhães, Ana S.; Silva, Branca M.; Pereira, José A.; Andrade, Paula B.; Valentão, Patrícia; Carvalho, Márcia
    The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic content and evaluate the antioxidant activity of quince (Cydonia oblonga) fruit. For this purpose, fruits were separated into pulps, peels and seeds and methanolic extracts were prepared. The phenolic profiles were determined by HPLC/UV and antioxidant properties were studied for their ability to quench the stable free radical 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and to inhibit the 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes. The main phenolic compounds were 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid for pulp and peel (57% and 29%, respectively) and stellarin-2 for seed (18%). Total phenolics content was 2.5, 6.3 and 0.4g/kg of methanolic extract for pulp, peel and seed, respectively. Pulp and peel extracts showed similar DPPH free radical scavenging activities (EC(50) of 0.6 and 0.8 mg/ml, respectively), while seed extract presented much lower antioxidant potential (EC(50) of 12.2mg/ml). Under the oxidative action of AAPH, pulp and peel extracts showed significant protection of the erythrocyte membrane from hemolysis, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Seed extracts by themselves induced extensive hemolysis. These results indicate higher antioxidant activity for certain parts of quince fruit, namely pulp and peel, that may therefore represent accessible sources of natural antioxidants with potential application in nutritional/pharmaceutical fields, as preventive or therapeutic agents in diseases in which free radicals are implicated.
  • First report on Cydonia oblonga Miller anticancer potential: differential antiproliferative effect against human kidney and colon cancer cells
    Publication . Carvalho, Márcia; Silva, Branca M.; Silva, Renata; Valentão, Patrícia; Andrade, Paula B.; Bastos, Maria L.
    The present study reports the phenolic profile and antiproliferative properties of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) leaf and fruit (pulp, peel, and seed) against human kidney and colon cancer cells. The phenolic profiles of quince methanolic extracts were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/diode array detector (DAD). 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid was always one of the two major phenolic compounds present in all extracts, except for seed. Our results revealed that quince leaf and fruit extracts exhibited distinctive antiproliferative activities. The extracts from quince leaf showed concentration-dependent growth inhibitory activity toward human colon cancer cells (IC(50) = 239.7 +/- 43.2 microg/mL), while no effect was observed in renal adenocarcinoma cells. Concerning the fruit, seed extracts exhibited no effect on colon cancer cell growth, whereas strong antiproliferative efficiency against renal cancer cells was observed for the highest concentration assayed (500 microg/mL). The antiproliferative activity of pulp and peel extracts was low or absent in the selected range of extract concentrations. This is the first report showing that C. oblonga may be useful as a cancer chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent.
  • Targeted metabolites and biological activities of Cydonia oblonga Miller leaves
    Publication . Oliveira, Andreia P.; Costa, Rossana M.; Magalhães, Ana S.; Pereira, José A.; Carvalho, Márcia; Valentão, Patrícia; Andrade, Paula B.; Silva, Branca M.
    Natural products continue to play a significant role in drug discovery and development processes, and many plants have already provided valuable clues for potentially bioactive compounds. Additionally, in recent years it has become evident that significant health risks and benefits are associated with dietary food choice. Nutritional studies recommend the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, which constitute an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, to favor a healthy life. Several works have showed that quince tree (Cydonia oblonga Miller) is a good and low cost natural source of metabolites with interesting biological properties. Extensive research has been performed on the metabolic profile and biological potential of this species. In particular, quince leaves revealed to constitute a promising natural source of bioactive phytochemicals, suitable for application in nutritional/pharmaceutical fields. In this review phenolics and organic acids composition of quince leaf is overviewed, as well as its antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, in chemical and cellular in vitro systems. Comparisons with green tea, considered by the scientific community as an effective natural antioxidant, were established.
  • Evaluation of free radical-scavenging and antihemolytic activities of quince (Cydonia oblonga) leaf: a comparative study with green tea (Camellia sinensis)
    Publication . Costa, Rossana M.; Magalhães, Ana S.; Pereira, José A.; Andrade, Paula B.; Valentão, Patrícia; Carvalho, Márcia; Silva, Branca M.
    This study aimed to determine the phenolic profile and to investigate the antioxidant potential of quince (Cydonia oblonga) leaf, comparing it with green tea (Camellia sinensis). For these purposes, methanolic extracts were prepared and phenolics content of quince leaf was determined by HPLC/UV. The antioxidant properties were assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity assay and by the ability to quench the stable free radical 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and to inhibit the 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes.5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid was found to be the major phenolic compound in quince leaf extract. Quince leaf exhibited a significantly higher reducing power than green tea (mean value of 227.8 +/- 34.9 and 112.5 +/- 1.5 g/kg dry leaf, respectively). Quince leaf extracts showed similar DPPH radical-scavenging activities (EC50 mean value of 21.6 +/- 3.5 microg/ml) but significantly lower than that presented by green tea extract (EC50 mean value of 12.7 +/- 0.1 microg/ml). Under the oxidative action of AAPH, quince leaf methanolic extract significantly protected the erythrocyte membrane from hemolysis in a similar manner to that found for green tea (IC50 mean value of 30.7 +/- 6.7 and 24.3 +/- 9.6 microg/ml, respectively, P > 0.05). These results point that quince leaf may have application as preventive or therapeutic agent in diseases in which free radicals are involved.