Planta Med 2014; 80 - P2B74
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394951

Bioactive polyphenols from cork industry by-products

IV Ferreira 1, 2, J Liberal 1, 2, T Santos 1, S Silva 3, MT Cruz 2, MT Batista 1
  • 1Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000 – 548 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 2Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
  • 3Corticeira Amorim, S.G.P.S., S.A., Rua do Ribeirinho 202, P.O Box 13, 4536 – 907 S. Paio de Oleiros, Portugal

Quercus suber L. cork has various industrial applications and from these activities many by-products are formed. Different phytoconstituents, namely polyphenols were identified1, and significant anti-inflammatory properties have been attributed to some polyphenols. In order to increase value to the cork industrial wastes, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a polyphenol-rich extract from a cork by-product on the production and/or scavenging of the pro-inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO) and on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression. A hydroalcoholic extract – EXTRACTCORK AM – was used in the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 for evaluation of NO production by Griess reaction, cytotoxicity by MTT and iNOS expression by Western blot. NO scavenging activity was also assessed using S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a NO donor. Phytochemical characterization was performed by HPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn. Ellagitannins were the main polyphenols in the analyzed extract. For no cytotoxic concentration this extract inhibited the production of NO, as well as iNOS expression triggered by the potent immunostimulator lipopolysaccharide (LPS). NO scavenging activity was not observed, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory properties verified for this extract are due to inhibition of iNOS expression instead of scavenging of NO. In conclusion, our results show that the extract obtained from an industrial cork by-product has significant anti-inflammatory activity and can be a valuable source of molecules for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank to QREN (Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional) and FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional)/COMPETE (Programa Operacional de Factores de Competitividade) for the financial support of the project 5455, 22/SI/2008 and to Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry of CEF/UC node, integrated in the National Mass Spectrometry Network (RNEM) of Portugal, for the mass spectra.

Keywords: cork; inflammation; polyphenols; nitric oxide

References:

1 SP Silva, et al., Int Mater Rev, 2005, 50: 345 – 365.