Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) seed: a potential nutritional source with antioxidant and pharmaceutical activity
2020
Kwon, S. I. | Kim, I. D. | Jang, S. Y. | Kim, M. J. | Han, C. H. | Shin, D. H. | Dhungana, S. K.
Pulp is a major part of persimmon fruit, for which it is widely cultivated in different parts of the world. Persimmon seeds are generally discarded as waste. The objective of the present work was to investigate the nutritional, antioxidative, and pharmacological properties of the seeds of three persimmon cultivars namely Jinyeong (JYS), Yangyangdongchulsi (YYS), and Hamanmulgam (HAS). JYS (9417.87 mg.kg-¹) contained the highest concentration of total minerals, followed by HAS and YYS. The concentration of total organic acids was also the highest in JYS (5362.43 mg.kg-¹), while the lowest in HAS (4411.1 mg.kg-¹). Similarly, JYS and YYS contained the highest and lowest concentrations of free sugars, respectively. On the other hand, the total free amino acid contents were the highest in YYS (336.34 mg.100 g-¹) among the cultivars. The persimmon seeds also have good potential for scavenging free radicals and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity. The seeds could also be considered to be a source of a therapeutic agent against Alzheimer’s disease, as the seed extract showed promising anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. The overall results of the present work provide an insight into persimmon seeds, a by-product of persimmon fruit, as a potential product in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
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