Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities
<i>Arbutus unedo</i>, commonly named ‘strawberry tree’ (ST), is a Mediterranean native plant that represents a relevant source of biologically active fractions and compounds. ST fruits, traditionally used with culinary and medicinal purposes, along with other components (leaves, roots, h...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/23/3838 |
| _version_ | 1797463224396808192 |
|---|---|
| author | Diego Morales |
| author_facet | Diego Morales |
| author_sort | Diego Morales |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Arbutus unedo</i>, commonly named ‘strawberry tree’ (ST), is a Mediterranean native plant that represents a relevant source of biologically active fractions and compounds. ST fruits, traditionally used with culinary and medicinal purposes, along with other components (leaves, roots, honeys, etc.), have been subjected to varied extraction procedures to obtain enriched and bioactive products. This work reviewed the scientific literature, searching for studies that evaluated the potential health implications of ST fractions and attending to the tested biological activities (antioxidant, antiproliferative, hypoglycemic, immune-modulatory, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, etc.), the part of the tree, the experimental model, the specific bioactive compounds and the selected extraction protocol. Furthermore, the strengths and weaknesses of the current state of the published evidence were critically analysed. Although in vitro results demonstrated the potential of ST fractions, further research is encouraged in order to obtain in vivo evidence (animal and clinical studies), assess additional activities (hypocholesterolemic, microbiome-modulatory), maximize the use of advanced extraction technologies, purify and isolate specific bioactive compounds and broaden the analysis investigating phenolic and non-phenolic molecules and their bioavailability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:47:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9d6cb2b8908043cb97a8142b4bc99b23 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:47:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d6cb2b8908043cb97a8142b4bc99b232023-11-24T10:59:25ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582022-11-011123383810.3390/foods11233838Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological ActivitiesDiego Morales0Nutrigenomics Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain<i>Arbutus unedo</i>, commonly named ‘strawberry tree’ (ST), is a Mediterranean native plant that represents a relevant source of biologically active fractions and compounds. ST fruits, traditionally used with culinary and medicinal purposes, along with other components (leaves, roots, honeys, etc.), have been subjected to varied extraction procedures to obtain enriched and bioactive products. This work reviewed the scientific literature, searching for studies that evaluated the potential health implications of ST fractions and attending to the tested biological activities (antioxidant, antiproliferative, hypoglycemic, immune-modulatory, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, etc.), the part of the tree, the experimental model, the specific bioactive compounds and the selected extraction protocol. Furthermore, the strengths and weaknesses of the current state of the published evidence were critically analysed. Although in vitro results demonstrated the potential of ST fractions, further research is encouraged in order to obtain in vivo evidence (animal and clinical studies), assess additional activities (hypocholesterolemic, microbiome-modulatory), maximize the use of advanced extraction technologies, purify and isolate specific bioactive compounds and broaden the analysis investigating phenolic and non-phenolic molecules and their bioavailability.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/23/3838<i>Arbutus unedo</i>strawberry treeantioxidantphenolic compoundsarbutinantitumoral |
| spellingShingle | Diego Morales Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities Foods <i>Arbutus unedo</i> strawberry tree antioxidant phenolic compounds arbutin antitumoral |
| title | Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities |
| title_full | Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities |
| title_fullStr | Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities |
| title_short | Use of Strawberry Tree (<i>Arbutus unedo</i>) as a Source of Functional Fractions with Biological Activities |
| title_sort | use of strawberry tree i arbutus unedo i as a source of functional fractions with biological activities |
| topic | <i>Arbutus unedo</i> strawberry tree antioxidant phenolic compounds arbutin antitumoral |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/23/3838 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diegomorales useofstrawberrytreeiarbutusunedoiasasourceoffunctionalfractionswithbiologicalactivities |