Polyphenolic Composition of <i>Rosa canina</i>, <i>Rosa sempervivens</i> and <i>Pyrocantha coccinea</i> Extracts and Assessment of Their Antioxidant Activity in Human Endothelial Cells

• Main Authors: Efthalia Kerasioti, Anna Apostolou, Ioannis Kafantaris, Konstantinos Chronis, Eleana Kokka, Christina Dimitriadou, Evangelia N. Tzanetou, Alexandros Priftis, Sofia D. Koulocheri, Serkos A. Haroutounian, Demetrios Kouretas, Dimitrios Stagos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: Antioxidants
• Subjects: Rosa canina; Rosa sempervivens; Pyrocantha coccinea; polyphenols; antioxidants; endothelial cells; glutathione
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/4/92

The aim of the present study was the investigation of the antioxidant activity of plant extracts from <i>Rosa canina, Rosa sempervivens</i> and <i>Pyrocantha coccinea</i>. The results showed that the bioactive compounds found at higher concentrations were in the <i>R. canina</i> extract: hyperoside, astragalin, rutin, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin; in the <i>R. sempervirens</i> extract: quinic acid, (+)-catechin, (&#8722;)-epicatechin, astragalin and hyperoside; and in the <i>P. coccinea</i> extract: hyperoside, rutin, (&#8722;)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, astragalin, vanillin, syringic acid and chlorogenic acid. The total polyphenolic content was 290.00, 267.67 and 226.93 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g dw, and the total flavonoid content 118.56, 65.78 and 99.16 mg Catechin Equivalent (CE)/g dw for <i>R. caninna, R. sempervirens</i> and <i>P. coccinea</i> extracts, respectively. The extracts exhibited radical scavenging activity in DPPH and 2,2&#8217;-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS)&#8226;⁺ assays and protection from ROO&#8226;-induced DNA damage in the following potency order: <i>R. canina</i> &gt; <i>R. sempervirens</i> &gt; <i>P. coccinea</i>. Finally, treatment with <i>R. canina</i> and <i>P. coccinea</i> extract significantly increased the levels of the antioxidant molecule glutathione, while <i>R. canina</i> extract significantly decreased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in endothelial cells. The results herein indicated that the <i>R. canina</i> extract in particular may be used for developing food supplements or biofunctional foods for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced pathological conditions of endothelium.