In vitro Anti-inflammatory Activities and Phenolic Acid Analysis of Tree Sprout Extracts

Abstract

This study evaluated several in vitro activities including the preliminary assessment of the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects of tree sprout extracts. Chlorogenic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acid contents in tree sprouts were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and an ultraviolet detector. Among the studied tree sprout extracts, the ethanol (EtOH) extract of Rhus verniciflua exhibited the most potent anti-cancer effect by suppressing the cell viability of a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, with an IC50 of 7.06 µg/mL. The EtOH extract of Morus alba (MAB) inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) at a concentration of 100 µg/mL, with an IC50 of 83.44 µg/mL. Moreover, the EtOH extract of Securinega suffruticosa inhibited NO secretion with the lowest IC50 of 54.42 µg/mL. The EtOH extract of Fraxinus mandschurica was the only extract with effective α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The total content of chlorogenic, caffeic, and p-coumaric acids was the highest in MAB (14.63 mg/g ext.). In conclusion, the beneficial activities of the tree sprout extracts with high phenolic acid content were generally high. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the development of health-promoting supplements and functional foods.