Rowanberry—A Source of Bioactive Compounds and Their Biopharmaceutical Properties

Abstract

After a period of intense development in the synthesis pharmaceutical industry, plants are making a comeback in the public focus as remedies or therapeutic adjuvants and in disease prevention and ensuring the wellbeing and equilibrium of the human body. Plants are being recommended more and more in alimentation, in their natural form, or as extracts, supplements or functional aliments. People, in general, are in search of new sources of nutrients and phytochemicals. As a result, scientific research turns to lesser known and used plants, among them being rowanberries, a species of fruit very rich in nutrients and underused due to their bitter astringent taste and a lack of knowledge regarding the beneficial effects of these fruit. Rowan fruits (rowanberries) are a rich source of vitamins, polysaccharides, organic acids and minerals. They are also a source of natural polyphenols, which are often correlated with the prevention and treatment of modern world diseases. This article presents the existing data regarding the chemical composition, active principles and biopharmaceutical properties of rowan fruits and the different opportunities for their usage.

The Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Cell-Protective Properties of Bioactive Compounds Extracted from Rowanberry (Sorbus aucuparia L.) Fruits In Vitro

“…The least susceptible was the strain of Bacillus cereus with the diameter of the inhibition zone significantly lower ( p < 0.05) compared to gentamicin. These results are below those previously published that present Gram-negative bacteria’s lower sensitivity associated with their bacterial wall particularities [ 5 ].…”

“…As such, the findings pointed out in vitro bactericidal efficacy against all the bacterial strains, with a higher potential towards the Gram-positive: Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA—Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis . Earlier studies contain data describing this property for extracts produced from different varieties of Sorbus aucuparia L. [ 5 , 43 ]. Such studies investigated extracts obtained from Sorbus aucuparia L. fruits [ 19 , 34 ], fruits and leaves [ 43 ], fruit pomace and juice [ 9 , 44 ].…”

“…The contradictory information refers to the spectrum of antimicrobial efficacy. While some authors reported in vitro efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter freundii ) [ 9 ], others present a rather modest or even weak effect against either the Gram-positive [ 34 , 41 ] or Gram-negative [ 5 ] Staphylococcus aureus . Additionally, the antimicrobial activity is described as bacteriostatic [ 41 ].…”

“…Sorbus aucuparia L. represents one such under-exploited forest fruit, commonly recognized as rowanberry or mountain ash, being part of the Rosaceae family. Sorbus aucuparia L. is a slender tree that can reach a height of 15–20 m and thrives in the Northern Hemisphere at varying altitudes, spreading from the European Atlantic coastlines to the Kamchatka Peninsula and the eastern part of China [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Its fruits have a spherical shape and are frequently reddish orange, containing 2–3 elongated stones [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Previous studies have shown that Sorbus aucuparia L. fruits contain a substantial number of bioactive constituents, including polyphenols, carotenoids, organic acids, vitamins, microelements and phytoalexins [ 13 , 14 ]. The most prevalent active chemicals are represented by polyphenols, from which proanthocyanidins and chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids dominate the composition of Sorbus aucuparia L. berries [ 5 , 9 , 15 , 16 ]. Additionally, prior studies revealed that the carotenoid content in Sorbus aucuparia L. is comparable to that discovered in carrots [ 17 , 18 ].…”