Interspecific Variation between the American <i>Quercus virginiana</i> and Mediterranean <i>Quercus</i> Species in Terms of Seed Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Content, and Antioxidant Activity

• Main Authors: José Valero-Galván, Raquel González-Fernández, Jesús V. Jorrin-Novo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: <i>Quercus</i> seeds morphometry; chemical seeds composition; clustering analysis
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/8/2351

This study aimed to evaluate a complete nutritional composition in the seeds <i>Quercus virginiana</i> to compare this nutritional composition with three Mediterranean <i>Quercus</i> species. We analyzed the seed morphometry, proximate composition, phytochemicals, and antioxidant capacity. The seed of <i>Q. virginiana</i> presented the smaller seed size and weight, while <i>Q. suber</i> presented the highest values. Moreover, <i>Q. virginiana</i> seeds showed the highest amounts of sugar and total lipids, digestibility, energy, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. On the other hand, <i>Q. virginiana</i> seeds showed the lowest values of linoleic acid. Moreover, <i>Q. coccifera</i> seeds presented the highest total phenolics and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity. The clustering analysis revealed a significant similarity in seed morphometry and nutritional composition between the Mediterranean <i>Q. ilex</i> and <i>Q. suber</i>, grouping with the American <i>Q. virginiana</i>, but to a considerable distance; by contrast, the Mediterranean <i>Q. coccifera</i> was the most distant in the clustering analysis. The content of phenolics and flavonoids and digestibility value were the variables that contributed to the separation to a greater extent in the clustering of the four species. The nutritional and biological activity assessment of plant seed may be considered as an essential mission to find new sustainable sources and novel chemical agents. In this sense, <i>Quercus</i> seeds may be an alternative and a competitive food source for the agri-food industry.