
Shaima Al Hasan
Sultan Qaboos University, OmanTitle: Antioxidant and Antitumor Properties of Wild Blueberry (Sideroxylon mascatense): Effects of Drying Methods
Abstract
Sideroxylon mascatense is a wild blueberry plant that traditionally known as “boot” in Oman. Studies on health beneficial
effects of this fruit are very limited. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antitumor properties of
Sideroxylon mascatense under different drying methods. Materials and Methods: Freeze (−20°C) and air drying (60 and 90°C) methods were
used. The antioxidant potential properties were evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assay. Moreover, the antitumor activities of blueberry
extracts were determined using Alamar blue assay. Results: The results of this study revealed that a blueberry extract at 20 mg powder/mL
provided the maximum amount of vitamin C, reaching a value of 19.45 mg/100 g dry-basis in the flesh dried at 60°C and 14.24 mg/100 g drybasis in seed dried at 90°C. The freeze-dried blueberry exhibited the highest percentage of free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) from both
fruit flesh (50.8%) and seeds (39.4%) at a concentration of 20 mg/mL indicating a higher antioxidant activity. There was no significant
difference in the ability of blueberry extracts to scavenge radical cations (ABTS+
) at various concentrations of extracts. However, there was a
40% reduction of ABTS+ radical formation in blueberry flesh extracts obtained from freeze-dried berry at a concentration of 20 mg/mL. On the
other hand, blueberry seeds showed variation in the scavenging activity of the ABTS+ radical of 38% after different processing methods.
Breast MCF7 and ovarian Ov2008 tumor cell lines were the most sensitive to the dried blueberry. The 50% growth inhibition (IC50) of the
freeze-dried blueberry extract at both cell lines was 64 and 69mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicated a potent antioxidant
activity of Sideroxylon mascatense, but further research is required to isolate the active compounds in the fruit and test their effects in an
experimental animal model.
Biography
Shaima Al Hasan have a master degree in food science from Sultan Qaboos University( SQU) in 2017. Skilled in Self-confidence, Research and Development (R&D), Cross-team Collaboration, Food Processing, and Dairy Products.
I Published a manuscript in International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases. It’s about “Antioxidant and Antitumor Properties of Wild Blueberry (Sideroxylon mascatense): Effects of Drying Methods”. I’m capable to manage label, artworks & packaging development. Conducting lab trials, recipe modification. Examination of product chemical, physical, microbiological characteristics. Ensure that the results meet GSO standards in order to reach high quality & safety products.