Polyphenol characterisation and diverse bioactivities of native Australian lilly pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) extract

Food Funct. 2022 Aug 15;13(16):8585-8592. doi: 10.1039/d2fo01305c.

Abstract

Magenta lilly pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) is an Australian native tree that produces berry fruits that are rich in phytochemicals reportedly beneficial to human health. Here we explored the biological activities of polyphenol-enriched extracts from the magenta lilly pilly fruit, benchmarking it against traditional sources including purple sweet potato and blackberry. We show that the extracts exert potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties as well as antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The phenolic composition of lilly pilly was investigated using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS), revealing anthocyanins to be the primary component in high abundance compared to traditional anthocyanin-containing plants. Three anthocyanins from lilly pilly, along with their glycosylation patterns and stability, were characterised. Altogether, our results demonstrate the potential to exploit magenta lilly pilly fruits as a high-yielding source of phenolics with beneficial biological properties of potential interest for multiple downstream applications.

MeSH terms

  • Anthocyanins / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Australia
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Phenols / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Polyphenols* / analysis
  • Polyphenols* / pharmacology
  • Rosaniline Dyes / analysis
  • Syzygium* / chemistry

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Antioxidants
  • Phenols
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Rosaniline Dyes