Metabolomic approach to identifying bioactive compounds in berries: advances toward fruit nutritional enhancement

Derek Stewart, Gordon J. McDougall, Julie Sungurtas, Susan Verrall, Julie Graham, Inger Martinussen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    72 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Plant polyphenolics continue to be the focus of attention with regard to their putative impact on human health. An increasing and ageing human population means that the focus on nutrition and nutritional enhancement or optimisation of our foodstuffs is paramount. Using the raspberry as a model, we have shown how modern metabolic profiling approaches can be used to identify the changes in the level of beneficial polyphenolics in fruit breeding segregating populations and how the level of these components is determined by genetic and/or environmental control. Interestingly, the vitamin C content appeared to be significantly influenced by environment (growth conditions) whilst the content of the polyphenols such as cyanidin, pelargonidin and quercetin glycosides appeared much more tightly regulated, suggesting a rigorous genetic control. Preliminary metabolic profiling showed that the fruit polyphenolic profiles divided into two gross groups segregating on the basis of relative levels of cyanidin-3-sophoroside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, compounds implicated as conferring human health benefits.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)645-51
    Number of pages7
    JournalMolecular Nutrition & Food Research
    Volume51
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2007

    Keywords

    • Antioxidants
    • Ascorbic Acid
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Flavonoids
    • Fruit
    • Health Promotion
    • Humans
    • Nutritive Value
    • Phenols
    • Phytotherapy
    • Polyphenols
    • Rosaceae

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