Abstract:

Some wild berries have been shown to have the functions of protecting against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancers due to the existence of phenolics. In the present study, the ripe fruits of five wild berries, Sorbus pohuashanensis H. (rowanberry), Vaccinium uliginosum L. (blue honeysuckle), Lonicera caerulea L., Hippophae rhamnoides L., and Fragaria orientalis Los., selected from the Greater Higgnan Mountains area of Northeast China were extracted with 80% acetone and the extracts were measured for their contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids and anthocyanins, ABTS+·, DPPH and total oxyradical scavenging capacities and anti-proliferative activities against HepG2 and HT29 cell (MTS assay). The results showed that rowanberry had the highest contents of total phenolics and total flavonoids among all the five berries, while blue honeysuckle had the highest anthocyanin content (367.5 ± 8.7) g/100 g. All the five berry extracts could exert antioxidant activities in vitro, of which rowanberry showed the highest inhibition effects on the proliferation of HepG2 and HT29 cells. As a conclusion, rowanberry has a huge potential for being developed as effective cancer drugs.

Key words: berries, phenolics, antioxidant activity, antiproliferative activity