Preliminary comparative phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of varieties Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae) shoot’ extracts

N. Y.  Yavorska¹, N. M. Vorobets¹, Yu. T. Salyha², O. I. Vishchur²

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

¹Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University,
69 Pekarska str., Lviv, 79010, Ukraine

²Institute of Animal Biology NAAS,
38 Vasyl Stus str., Lviv, 79034, Ukraine

Nowadays, the created varieties of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae) are widespread in different regions of all continents with a suitable climate. Until now, mainly the fruits of these plants have been used, and the vegetative aerial part that remains when pruning the bushes has not been employed. Meanwhile, shoots of other species of Ericaceae have long been used as raw materials for the needs of pharmacy, medicine and veterinary medicine. Phytochemical screening methods were used for the detection of various phytochemicals in shoots of three varieties V. corymbosum introduced in Ukraine by qualitative chemical tests to give a general idea regarding the nature of constituents present in plant material, especially with antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the content of extractives was determined in the obtained extracts and their antioxidant activity by determining the total antioxidant capacity using the DPPH radical scavenging method on various stages of plant development. Phytochemical screening on the shoots of three V. corymbosum varieties (Bluejay, Bluecrop, Elliott) showed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, phlobatannins, hydroquinone and arbutin that exhibit antioxidant properties; the extractive value depends on the solvent and stage of plant development. Bluejay in aqueous extracts had the greatest amount of extractives during flowering and at the beginning of the winter period; in Bluecrop it was during fruiting and at the beginning of the winter period; and in Elliott — at the beginning of the winter period. Thus, we can assume the prospects of their study on antimicrobial properties, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, as well as a feed additive for animal feed.

Key words: Vaccinium corymbosum varieties, extractives, screening of soluble compounds, antioxidant activity

1. Contreras RA, Köhler H, Pizarro M, Zúiga In vitro cultivars of Vaccinium corymbosumL. (Ericaceae) are a source of antioxidant phenolics. Antioxidants. 2015; 4 (2): 281–292. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox4020281
2. Del Rio D, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Spencer JPE, Tognolini M, Borges G, Crozier A. Dietary (poly)phenolics in human health: structure, bioavailability, and evidence of protective effects against chronic diseases. Redox Signal. 2012; 18 (14): 1818–1892. https://doi.org/10.1089/ars.2012.4581
3. Draelos ZD. Skin lightening preparations and the hydroquinone controversy. Ther. 2007; 20 (5): 308–313. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8019.2007.00144.x
4. Ebanks JP, Wickett RR, Boissy Mechanisms regulating skin pigmentation: the rise and fall of complexion coloration. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2009; 10 (9): 4066–4087. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms10094066
5. Gurlyov DS. Handbook of photography (processing of photographic materials). Kyiv, Tekhnika, 1988: 335 p. (in Russian)
6. Krishnaiah D, Sarbatly R, Nithyanandam R. A review of the antioxidant potential of medicinal plant species. Food and Bioproducts Processing. 2011; 89 (3): 217–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2010.04.008
7. MSU Extension. Blueberries: Growth Stages. Michigan State University. Available at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/blueberries/growing_blueberries/growth-stages
8. Noorul H, Mujahid M, Badruddeen, Khalid M, Vartika S, Nesar A, Zafar K, Zohrameena S. Physico-phytochemical analysis and estimation of total phenolic, flavonoids and proanthocyanidin content of Persea Americana (avocado) seed extracts. World J. Pharm. Sci. 2017; 5 (4): 70–77. Available at: http://www.wjpsonline.org/admin/uploads/HMqFIW.pdf
9. Rauf A, Uddin G, Ali M, Ahmad N, Gul S. Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of Pakistani medicinal plants. Wudpecker J. Med. Plants. 2013; 2 (1): 001–006. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236512561
10. Shahidi F, Ambigaipalan P. Phenolics and polyphenolics in food, beverages and spices: antioxidant activity and health effects — a review. Func. Foods. 2015; 18 (B): 820–897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.06.018
11. State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine. State Enterprise “Ukrainian Medicines”. 1^st Appendix 4. Kharkiv, Ukrainian Scientific Pharmacopoeial Center for Quality of Medicines, 2011: 540 p. (in Ukrainian)
12. State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine. State Enterprise “Ukrainian Scientific Pharmacopoeial Center for Drug Quality”. 2^nd ed, vol. 1. Kharkiv, Ukrainian Scientific Pharmacopoeial Center for Drug Quality, 2015: 1110 p. (in Ukrainian)
13. State Pharmacopoeia of the USSR: Vol. General methods of analysis. Medicinal plant raw materials. Ministry of Health of the USSR. 11^th ed., Ext. Moscow, Medytsyna, 1989: 400 p. (in Russian)
14. Ștefănescu BE, Szabo K, Mocan A, Crişan G. Phenolic compounds from five ericaceae species leaves and their related bioavailability and health benefits. Molecules. 2019; 24 (11): 2046. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24112046
15. Tressera-Rimbau A, Arranz S, Eder M, Vallverdú-Queralt A. Dietary polyphenols in the prevention of stroke. new insights into the benefits of polyphenols in chronic diseases. Med. Cell. Longevity. New Insights into the Benefits of Polyphenols in Chronic Diseases. 2017; Article ID 7467962. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7467962
16. Visioli F, De La Lastra CA, Andres-Lacueva C, Aviram M, Calhau C, Cassano A, D’Archivio M, Faria A, Favé G, Fogliano V, Llorach R, Vitaglione P, Zoratti M, Edeas M. Polyphenols and human health: a prospectus. Critical Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 2011; 51 (6): 524–546. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408391003698677
17. Yavorska N, Vorobets N. Phytosynthetic pigments in shoots of Vaccinium corymbosum (Cv. Elliott). Agrobiodiversity for Improving Nutrition, Health and Life Quality. 2019; 3: 93–100. https://doi.org/10.15414/agrobiodiversity.2019.2585-8246.093-100
18. Yavorska NY, Vorobets NM. Seasonal variation in the ascorbic and organic acids content in shoots of highbush blueberry cultivars during vegetation stages. Clin. Chem. 2020; 22 (2): 31–38. (in Ukrainian) https://doi.org/10.11603/mcch.2410-681X.2020.v.i2.11355
19. Yavorska NY, Vorobets NM. Seasonal variation in the polyphenol and flavonoids content in shoots of highbush blueberry cultivars during vegetation stages. Bulletin of Problems of Biology and Medicine. 2020; 3 (157): 71–75. (in Ukrainian) https://doi.org/10.29254/2077-4214-2020-3-157-70-75