Enhanced Recovery of Antioxidant Compounds from Hazelnut (<i>Corylus avellana</i> L.) Involucre Based on Extraction Optimization: Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities
Marius Emil Rusu,
Ionel Fizeșan,
Anca Pop,
Ana-Maria Gheldiu,
Andrei Mocan,
Gianina Crișan,
Laurian Vlase,
Felicia Loghin,
Daniela-Saveta Popa,
Ioan Tomuta
Affiliations
Marius Emil Rusu
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ionel Fizeșan
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Anca Pop
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ana-Maria Gheldiu
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Andrei Mocan
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Gianina Crișan
Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Laurian Vlase
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Felicia Loghin
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Daniela-Saveta Popa
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ioan Tomuta
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babes, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Tree nut by-products could contain a wide range of phytochemicals, natural antioxidants, which might be used as a natural source for dietary supplements. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the phenolic and sterolic composition, as well as the antioxidant and other biological activities, of hazelnut involucre (HI) extracts. Experimental designs were developed in order to select the optimum extraction conditions (solvent, temperature, time) using turbo-extraction by Ultra-Turrax for obtaining extracts rich in bioactive compounds. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed by LC-MS and LC-MS/MS and they revealed important amounts of individual polyphenols and phytosterols, molecules with antioxidant potential. The richest polyphenolic HI extract with the highest antioxidant activity by TEAC assay was further evaluated by other in vitro antioxidant tests (DPPH, FRAP) and enzyme inhibitory assays. Additionally, the cytotoxic and antioxidant effects of this extract on two cancerous cell lines and on normal cells were tested. This is the first study to analyze the composition of both hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds in HI extracts. Our findings reveal that this plant by-product presents strong biological activities, justifying further research, and it could be considered an inexpensive source of natural antioxidants for food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic industry.