Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Blackberry Phenolic and Volatile Extracts
Join the Department of Food Science and Nutrition for this FDSN Seminar Series event featuring guest speaker Luke R. Howard, professor of food chemistry at the University of Arkansas.
The anti-inflammatory activity of blackberries has been attributed to phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. The present study hypothesized that volatiles could contribute to anti-inflammatory activity as well. The anti-inflammatory properties of three blackberry genotypes varying in total volatile and phenolic contents were assessed by measuring concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α) within LPS-inflamed RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells after a preventive treatment of either a phenolic or a volatile extract. Extracts from blackberry genotypes A2528T, A2587T and Natchez had total phenolic contents of 4315, 3369 and 3680 µg/mL, respectively, and total volatile contents of 283, 852 and 444 ng/mL, respectively. Phenolic and volatile extracts of all genotypes significantly lowered the secretion of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α in ranges varying between 20-42%, 34-60% and 28-73% inhibition, respectively. Volatile extracts exhibited greater anti-inflammatory properties than phenolic extracts, despite being present at much lower concentrations in the berries. Further research is needed to assess bioavailability and anti-inflammatory effect of blackberry volatiles in vivo.
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