Chemical composition and biological action of rowanberry extract

The object of this study was the extract from the dried pomace of the Amur rowanberry (Sorbus amurensis Koehne) after the juice separation. The content of total polyphenols, lipid composition, and antiradical activity of the extract were studied. The total content of polyphenols proved to be 80 +/- 2,5 mg-equivalents of gallic acid per 100 mL of the extract, suggesting the high level of its antiradical activity (29.73 +/- 0.23 mmolequivalents of trolox per liter). The lipid part of the extract included three phospholipid fractions and six fractions of neutral lipids. Their content was found to be 13.4 +/- 0.14 mg of total lipids/mL. These results pointed to a high biological activity of the extract which could be considered as a promising object for further experimental studies. The Amur rowanberry extract was shown to exhibit a pronounced antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity on the laboratory model of the carbon-tetrachloride-induced hepatitis in rats with endogastric administration at a dose of 100 mg of total polyphenols per kg of body weight. Administration of the extract resulted in a decrease in the content of total lipids, specific liver weight, and the activity of alanine aminotransferase. The level of the reduced glutathione and the activity of antioxidant and lysosomal enzymes were also normalized. The rowanberry extract seemed to be a promising source for the creation of biologically active food supplements with high antioxidant and antiradical activity.