Sweet cherries from Fundão possess antidiabetic potential and protect human erythrocytes against oxidative damage

Abstract

Cherries are one of the most appreciated summer fruits due to their attractive colour, sweet taste, high water content, low level of calories and composition in bioactive compounds which, in turn, are important to prevent somepathologies like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this work we evaluated the phenolic profile andbiological potential of 5 varieties of sweet cherries from Fundão region (Portugal) (Saco, Sweetheart, Satin, Maringand Hedelfinger). A total of 23 phenolic compounds were identified by LC-DAD and distributed by the several classes: 6 anthocyanins, 1 hydroxybenzoic acid, 8 hydroxycinnamic acids, 3 flavan-3-ols and 5 flavonols. Maring revealed higher contents in anthocyanins, while Hedelfinger was the richest in non-coloured phenolics. Theantioxidant capacity was evaluated against DPPH and nitric oxide radicals. Hedelfinger was the most activeagainst DPPH*(IC50 = 12.1 μg/mL) and Maring against nitric oxide (IC50 = 140.9 μg/mL). Afterwards, antidiabeticcapacity was evaluated through the inhibition of α-glucosidase activity, pointing Hedelfinger as the most active(IC50 = 10.3 μg/mL). The capacity of Saco extracts to inhibit the hemoglobin oxidation and the hemolysis ofhuman erythrocytes was also evaluated. Both assays revealed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect(IC50 = 38.6 μg/mL and IC50 = 73.0 μg/mL, respectively). The results obtained in this study allow us to concludethat sweet cherries possess a great biological potential, and further investigation should be done to promote commercialization and encourage its use in food supplements and in new pharmaceutical and nutraceuticalapplications.