Arbutus unedo L.: Chemical and Biological Properties

Miguel, Maria; Faleiro, Maria Leonor; Guerreiro, Adriana; Antunes, Maria Dulce

doi:10.3390/molecules191015799

Cited by 94 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…They are also used for preparing liqueurs and aromatic traditional distillate (Soufleros et al, 2005;González et al, 2011;Botelho et al, 2015). Strawberry tree fruits can be stored at low temperature preserving their quality (Guerreiro et al, 2013;Fadda et al, 2015) and they could be introduced in the market as fruits and/ or as a source of bioactive compounds for dietary supplements or functional foods used as components in yoghurts, in cereal bars, in pastry making and confectionery, as flavors or in pieces, like other berries (Ayaz et al, 2000;Alarcão-e-Silva et al, 2001;Miguel et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometric and Molecular Analysis of the Three Arbutus Species of Greece

Bertsouklis

Papafotiou

2016

Not Bot Horti Agrobo

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Arbutus andrachne, A. unedo and A. × andrachnoides found in the Greek macchia are promising species for reforestations, ornamental use, as well as for medicinal use and the food industry. Μorphological traits and molecular markers (RAPD) were used to identify and distinguish these Arbutus species to facilitate their exploitation. Since there are no descriptors established for Arbutus spp., 23 qualitative morphological characteristics of crown, foliage, bark, flowering, fruiting, and four quantitative morphological characteristics of leaf and fruit were selected and used to define differences and similarities between sampled individuals of A. andrachne, A. unedo and individuals with intermediate characteristics sampled as A. × andrachnoides. Twenty eight individuals representative of three Arbutus taxa were sampled in two typical macchia forest areas of the prefecture of Attica, Greece. Cluster analysis based on morphological characteristics separated the individuals in three distinct groups, and this was confirmed by molecular analysis. Τhe intermediate form was indicated as A. × andrachnoides, a natural hybrid of A. andrachne and A. unedo. Fifteen 10-mer oligonucleotide arbitrary primers used to amplify genomic DNA generated 166 reproducible polymorphic fragments, which revealed that A. × andrachnoides has higher degree of genetic similarity with A. andrachne than A. unedo. The applied morphometric characteristics are suggested as a basis to develop a complete list of discriminating descriptors for Arbutus genus.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometric and Molecular Analysis of the Three Arbutus Species of Greece

Bertsouklis

Papafotiou

2016

Not Bot Horti Agrobo

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“…The differences observed between the two species might be better explained by examination of the particular habitats they are usually found in. Arbutus unedo has long been a cultivated species because of its fruits, as well as its use folk medicine (Soufleros, Mygdalia, and Natskoulis 2005;Pallauf et al 2008;Antolín and Jacomet 2014;Miguel et al 2014). In contrast, A. andrachne is more often found wild, with far less access to a water regimen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Leaf surface wettability and fatty acid composition ofArbutus unedoandArbutus andrachnegrown under ambient conditions in a natural macchia

Koukos

Meletiou-Christou

Rhizopoulou

2015

Acta Botanica Gallica

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Features of the adaxial and abaxial surface microstructure of Arbutus unedo L. and Arbutus andrachne L. are evaluated as possible consistent parameters contributing to the wetness of leaves. The abaxial leaf surface of A. andrachne and A. unedo was determined to be more hydrophobic than the adaxial leaf surface. Hydrophobicity may be of particular importance for the ecophysiological status of the hypostomatic leaves of both Arbutus species, which exhibit a long lifespan and are exposed to various environmental stimuli. Water repellence may also be correlated to the increased presence of surface wax. Lipid analysis of the leaves of both plant species revealed an abundance of α-linolenic acid, with palmitic acid as the second major contributor, followed by linoleic and oleic acid. Oleic and linoleic acid were present in slightly larger percentages in A. andrachne compared with A. unedo, whereas myristic, palmitic and α-linolenic acids were found in elevated percentages in A. unedo. The fatty acid composition analysis of the leaf wax of A. andrachne and A. unedo ranged from C16 to C26, with fatty acids of an even longer chain length detected in the case of A. andrachne. Despite the similar fatty acid composition of total lipids, the composition of the wax fraction showed differences between the two Arbutus species, which may partly contribute to the foliar surface properties of the two species.

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“…In fact, there are numerous studies mainly on leaves and fruits of Arbutus unedo L. The chemical composition of fruits and leaves among which phenols, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, may be responsible for the reported biological properties (see excellent review of Miguel et al 2014). Similarly, an analysis by HPLC is undergoing in our laboratory to analyse the composition of the extracts used.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of methanol extracts from roots, leaves, and fruits of the Lebanese strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne) on cardiac function together with their antioxidant activity

Abidi

Habib

Yassine

et al. 2015

Pharmaceutical Biology

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Context: Several plant-derived natural products have been used in clinical phase for applications in neurological, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases. Arbutus andrachne L. (Ericacea) is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. Traditionally, the fruits and leaves of Arbutus tree are well known and used as antiseptics, diuretics, blood tonic, and laxatives. Objective: Data regarding the biological effects of compounds derived from the Lebanese Arbutus andrachne are not available. In the present work, we studied the antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of leaves, fruits, and roots of the plant against electrolysis; together with their effects on the cardiodynamics of isolated perfused rabbit hearts. Materials and methods: In vitro electrolysis of the different root, leaves, and fruits methanol extracts was evaluated by the amount of free radicals that has been reduced by increasing the concentration of root extracts ranging from 0.5 to 2 mg after 1, 2, 3, and 4 min. Left ventricular pressure (LVP), heart rate (HR), and coronary flow (CR) were investigated in isolated rabbit heart after administration of 0.5, 1, 2, and 2 mg of each methanol extracts plotted against time (0, 0.5, 1.5, 5, and 10 min), according to the Langendorff method. Lipid peroxidation study was performed by the colorimetric method on myocard tissue after incubation with 500 ml of the different methanol extracts. The amount of MDA was determined at 500 nm absorbance after 5 min incubation. Results: Among the different methanol extracts, the roots showed the highest in vitro antioxidant activity, particularly observed at concentration of 2 mg which completely inhibits free radical generation after 4 min. LVP decreases by 32% at the dose of 2 mg of root extracts after 5 min. No significant effect was observed by the three tested extracts on the heart rate. The three methanol extracts did not show any significant effect on the coronary flow. Moreover, the roots show an increase in the coronary flow at a concentration of 1 and 2 mg/ml during 1 min. Electrolysis on heart tissue treated with the roots extracts shows a decrease in the MDA level from 70.51 ± 6.71 to 48.58 ± 4.15 nmole/g of tissue. Discussion and conclusion: Methanol extracts of the roots possess antihypertensive effect that may result from its ability to decrease the LVP together with its protective role by inhibiting free radical generation and significantly decreasing the MDA level of heart tissue. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Arbutus unedo L.: Chemical and Biological Properties

Cited by 94 publications

References 79 publications

Morphometric and Molecular Analysis of the Three Arbutus Species of Greece

Morphometric and Molecular Analysis of the Three Arbutus Species of Greece

Leaf surface wettability and fatty acid composition ofArbutus unedoandArbutus andrachnegrown under ambient conditions in a natural macchia

Effects of methanol extracts from roots, leaves, and fruits of the Lebanese strawberry tree (Arbutus andrachne) on cardiac function together with their antioxidant activity

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