Phytochemicals Determination, and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Activities of Blackberry Fruits

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https:// www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/foods12071505/s1, Table S1: Calibration ranges, curves, regression coefficients and LOD and LOQ of the standard molecules.

This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation within the project ACTIVE HONEY: Innovative formulations of main bee products using natural ingredients. 2019–2022. (EXP 00116482/INNO-20182004), funded by the Technological Center for the Industrial Development (CDTI).

A comprehensive characterization of the phytochemicals present in a blackberry fruit extract by HPLC-TOF-MS has been carried out. The main compounds in the extract were ursane-type terpenoids which, along with phenolic compounds, may be responsible for the bioactivity of the extract. In vitro antioxidant capacity was assessed through Folin-Ciocalteu (31.05 +/- 4.9 mg GAE/g d.w.), FRAP (637.8 +/- 3.2 mu mol Fe2+/g d.w.), DPPH (IC50 97.1 +/- 2.4 mu g d.w./mL) and TEAC (576.6 +/- 8.3 mu mol TE/g d.w.) assays. Furthermore, the extract exerted remarkable effects on in vitro cellular antioxidant activity in HUVEC cells at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Antimicrobial activity of the extract was also tested. Most sensible microorganisms were Gram-positive bacteria, such as E. faecalis, B. cereus and Gram-negative E. coli (MBC of 12.5 mg/mL). IC50 values against colon tumoral cells HT-29 (4.9 +/- 0.2 mg/mL), T-84 (5.9 +/- 0.3 mg/mL) and SW-837 (5.9 +/- 0.2 mg/mL) were also obtained. Furthermore, blackberry extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory IL-8 cytokines in two cellular models (HT-29 and T-84) in a concentration-dependent manner. These results support that blackberry fruits are an interesting source of bioactive compounds that may be useful in the prevention and treatment of different diseases, mainly related to oxidative stress.

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation within the project ACTIVE HONEY: Innovative formulations of main bee products using natural ingredients. 2019-2022 - Technological Center for the Industrial Development (CDTI) EXP 00116482/INNO-20182004