Page 192 - Zbornik_Konf_2019

https://doi.org/10.15414/2019.9788055220703

4 International Scientific Conference Abstracts Book
th
THERAPEUTICAL EFFECT OF CORNUS MAS L. FRUITS IN HUMAN MEDICAL PRACTICE

Jan Lietava
Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University and Centre of Experimental Medicine,
Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; E-mail.: jan.lietava@yahoo.com

Cornellian cherry (Cornus mas L.) (CC) is used as a food item as well as traditional
medicine from south Europe, to Subhimalanian region since Laten period (cca 450 BD to 100
AD). CC fruits contain a wide range of phytochemicals, including tannins (131.51–601.2
mg/L), phenolics (29.76–74.83 mg/g dry), organic acids (4.6–7.4 %), anthocyanins, fatty
acids, and flavonoids (Klimenko et al., 2004). The anthocyanins present in CC are delphinidin
3-O-beta-galactopyranoside, cyanidin 3-O-beta-galactopyranoside, and pelargonidin 3-O-beta-
galactopyranoside (Seeram et al., 2002). Fruits are reported to contain 0.1–0.3 % fat, 0.4 %
protein, 21.7 % carbohydrates, 0.8 % ash, 0.5 % dietary fibers, 6.6–15.1 % total sugars
(fructose 33.1–43.1 %, glucose 53.6–63.1 %), and 4.22–9.96 % reducing sugars as well as 15
amino acids (Brindza et al., 2008). CC juice contains high level of calcium (323 mg/l)
exceeding 10 fold content in plum, pear or apple juice and comparable amount of potassium,
sodium, zinc, and manganese. Typical is high level of polyphenolic compound – gallic acid
(45.5 mg/g) with highly expressed antioxidant activity evaluated as a ferric-reducing
antioxidant power, which was 10-fold higher in comparison with mentioned fruits.
CC exhibited strong antioxidant-related effect in experimental conditions both in vitro
and in vivo. Several animal studies have shown important effect of CC on classical risk factors
of atherosclerosis. Sozanski et al. (2014) studied effect of CC fruit lyophylisate on PPARalpha
protein expression and atheromatous changes in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. CC in dose of
100 mg/kg b.w. caused 44 % decrease in triglycerides (TG) and prevented development of
atheromatous changes in aorta. Hepatic PPARalpha protein expression was significantly
increased. The effect of CC on hepatic function is supported also by observation of increased
total antioxidant capacity of the liver, however, without changes in activity of superoxide
dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and hepatic lipid peroxidation.
Favorable results were found by Asgary et al. (2014) in rats with alloxan induces
diabetes, who besides of hypolipidemic effects, reported also antihyperglycemic effect of CC
comparable with glibenclamid therapy in control group. Rassoulian et al. (2012) confirmed
hypoglycemic effect of CC in hamsters fed by CC fruits with subsequent elevation of insulin
level. The neuroprotective effect was found in Wistar rats treated by freeze-drying
lyophylisate CC powder and exposed to high-fat or fructose diets. CC causes decrease of the
plasmatic catalase activity and increased in brain suggesting increased cerebral protention.
The similar favourable effect was found in response of paraoxonase 1, which inhibits
oxidation of lipoproteins and of carbonyl groups and which are markers of protein damage.
In the only PubMed published controlled clinical study, Asgary et al. (2013) studied the
hypolipidemic and antiinflammatory effect of 100 grams of CC added to diet for 6 weeks in 40
dyslipidemic children and adolescents aged 9–16 years. The intervention group
demonstrated significant decrease in total cholesterol, TG, LDL cholesterol, apoB, ICAM-1 and
VCAM-1 levels.
A clear improvement of lipid spectrum and inflammation markers after a mild intake of
Cornelian cherry added to usual diet predispose the fruits as supportive therapy of main risk
factors of atherosclerosis.
Keywords: Cornus mas, atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, lipid spectrum, risk factors.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by VEGA grant 2/0137/16: Effect of Cornus mas L. lyophylisate on
cardiometabolic and inflammatory parameters in experimental metabolic syndrome.

|192 4 International Scientific Conference Agrobiodiversity Nutrition, Health and Quality of Human and Bees Life
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September 11–13, 2019