An Overview of Traditional Uses, Phytochemical Compositions and Biological Activities of Edible Fruits of European and Asian <i>Cornus</i> Species
Maria C. Tenuta,
Brigitte Deguin,
Monica R. Loizzo,
Claire Cuyamendous,
Marco Bonesi,
Vincenzo Sicari,
Lorenza Trabalzini,
Anne-Claire Mitaine-Offer,
Jianbo Xiao,
Rosa Tundis
Affiliations
Maria C. Tenuta
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Brigitte Deguin
Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Cité, U.M.R. n°8038-CiTCoM-(CNRS, Université de Paris Cité), F-75006 Paris, France
Monica R. Loizzo
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Claire Cuyamendous
Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Cité, U.M.R. n°8038-CiTCoM-(CNRS, Université de Paris Cité), F-75006 Paris, France
Marco Bonesi
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Vincenzo Sicari
Department of Agraria, “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Lorenza Trabalzini
Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
Anne-Claire Mitaine-Offer
Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, UFR des Sciences de Santé, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, BP 87900, CEDEX, F-21079 Dijon, France
Jianbo Xiao
Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Analytical and Food Chemistry Department, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universidade de Vigo, Ourense Campus, E-32004 Ourense, Spain
Rosa Tundis
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Cornus species are widely distributed in central and southern Europe, east Africa, southwest Asia, and America. Several species are known for edible fruits, especially Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis. These delicious fruits, characterized by their remarkable nutritional and biological values, are widely used in traditional medicine. In contrast to the other edible Cornus species, C. mas and C. officinalis are the most studied for which little information is available on the main phytochemicals and their biological activities. Fruits are characterised by several classes of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, anthocyanins, tannins, triterpenoids, and iridoids. The available phytochemical data show that the different classes of metabolites have not been systematically studied. However, these edible species are all worthy of interest because similarities have been found. Thus, this review describes the traditional uses of Cornus species common in Europe and Asia, a detailed classification of the bioactive compounds that characterize the fruits, and their beneficial health effects. Cornus species are a rich source of phytochemicals with nutritional and functional properties that justify the growing interest in these berries, not only for applications in the food industry but also useful for their medicinal properties.
