Scientific journal

50 2011

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research
Summary No. 4 / 2011

GONZÁLEZ-FLORES, D. – VELARDO, B. – GARRIDO, M. – GONZÁLEZ-GÓMEZ, D. – LOZANO, M. – AYUSO, M. C. – BARRIGA, C. – PAREDES, S. D. – RODRÍGUEZ, A. B.
Ingestion of Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Crimson Globe) increases the urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and total antioxidant capacity levels in young, middle-aged and elderly humans: Nutritional and functional characterization of their content
Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 50, 2011, No. 4, s. 229-236

Sergio Damián Paredes Royano, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain. Tel: +34 924 289 388, fax: +34 924 289 388, e-mail: sparedes@unex.es

Summary: Plums are considered a source of phytochemicals with beneficial health effects. The study was aimed at characterizing Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Crimson Globe) nutritionally and functionally and evaluating the antioxidant effect of a plum-enriched diet in young, middle-aged and elderly individuals. Participants consumed 195 g of plums twice a day for 5 days. First-void morning urines were collected before treatment (basal values), the immediate day after the last ingestion of plums (assay), and 1 day afterwards (post-assay); subsequently, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6-s) and total antioxidant capacity were measured. Nutritionally, plums were shown to contain low amounts of saccharides. From a functional point of view, serotonin, melatonin, phenolic compounds and anthocyanins were detected. Fruit consumption increased significantly the participants’ urinary aMT6-s and total antioxidant capacity levels in relation to their corresponding basal and post-assay values. Plums may be taken as a source of antioxidants with a potential to counteract oxidation.

Keywords: antioxidant; anthocyanin; plum; Prunus salicina; serotonin; 6-sulfatoxymelatonin

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