33F-8 |
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D. A. VATTEM1, R. Ghaedian2, R. E. Levin1, and K. Shetty1. (1) Dept. of Food Science, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, Chenoweth Lab., Box 31410, Amherst, MA 01003-1410, (2) Decas Cranberry Products, Carver, MA 02330 Fruits are rich in phenolic compounds whose possible benefit to human health has only recently been established. Biological effects of phenolic compounds are gaining prominence as a result of their antioxidant activity in protecting against oxidation-linked diseases such as cancer. In addition phenolic phytochemicals have antimutagenic functionality. Recent research indicates better health functionality of whole foods compared to single active compound suggesting a synergistic interaction of phenolic phytochemicals in diet. We hypothesize that the functionality of whole foods can be further improved by enriching them with functional phenolic phytochemicals to promote synergistic activity. The objective was to investigate the effect of cranberry phenolics (CP), ellagic acid (EA), rosmarinic acid (RA) and their synergistic interactions (CP-EA; CP-RA) on enhancing antioxidant activity and antimutagenic properties. Total phenolics in water extracts were assayed using Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant potential was measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-radical (DPPH) system. Antimutagenic assay was done using Salmonella typhimurium tester system against sodium azide in the Ames test. Results showed that the antioxidant activity of cranberry powder phenolics increased by ~15% when 30% of phenolics in cranberry phenolics were replaced by either ellagic acid or rosmarinic acid. EA had higher antimutagenic activity than, CP or CP-EA. RA and CP individually did not function as effective antimutagens. Their antimutagenic functionality was improved by 10-20% by using them in synergy. Antioxidant activity of CP was enhanced by synergistic interaction with EA and RA. However, RA was more efficient as an antimutagen in a phenolic profile background than EA suggesting strong synergistic interaction between CP and RA. Differences in the activity of RA and EA suggest differences in antimutagenic activity by the two phenolics. This could be either by recruitment of the antioxidant enzyme systems or via the induction of SOS repair systems to repair mutations and DNA damage induced by the mutagen.
Session 33F, Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods: Antioxidants and phytochemical analysis
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