Identification of the strong vasorelaxing substance scirpusin B, a dimer of piceatannol, from passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds.

Abstract

Piceatannol is present in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds in high amounts. In this study, we isolated the second major polyphenolic compound of passion fruit seeds and identified it as scirpusin B, which is a dimer of piceatannol. We investigated the antioxidant activities and vasorelaxing effects of these polyphenols. Their antioxidant effects were measured using an in vitro 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and their vasorelaxant effects were determined ex vivo in rat thoracic aorta. Both polyphenolic compounds exhibited potent antioxidant activities and significant vasorelaxant effects in endothelium-intact aortas. More specifically, scirpusin B exerted a greater antioxidant activity and vasorelaxant effect compared with that of piceatannol. Additionally, the vasorelaxation effects of the compounds were induced via the NO derived from the endothelium. This study provides the possibility that polyphenols in passion fruit seeds are effective against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

• Authors: Shoko Sano, Kenkichi Sugiyama, Tatsuhiko Ito, Yumi Katano, Akira Ishihata
• Journal: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (J Agric Food Chem) Vol. 59 Issue 11 Pg. 6209-13 (Jun 08 2011) ISSN: 1520-5118 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21526844 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Benzofurans
• Plant Extracts
• Stilbenes
• Vasodilator Agents
• scirpusin B

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (chemistry, isolation & purification)
• Aorta (drug effects, physiology)
• Benzofurans (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Dimerization
• Fruit (chemistry)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Male
• Molecular Structure
• Passiflora (chemistry)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred F344
• Seeds (chemistry)
• Stilbenes (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Vasodilator Agents (chemistry, isolation & purification, pharmacology)