Seasonal variation, fractional isolation and nanoencapsulation of antioxidant compounds of indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini)

Authors: SHAHEEN, RABIA - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; HANIF, MUHAMMAD - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; NISAR, SHAFAQ - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; RASHID, UMER - Universiti Putra Malaysia; SAJID, ZUBIA - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; SHEHZAD, MUHAMMAD - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; Moser, Jill; ALSALME, ALI - King Saud University

Submitted to: Antioxidants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2021
Publication Date: 11/26/2021
Citation: Shaheen, R., Hanif, M.A., Nisar, S., Rashid, U., Sajid, Z., Shehzad, M.R., Winkler-Moser, J.K., Alsalme, A. 2021. Seasonal variation, fractional isolation and nanoencapsulation of antioxidant compounds of indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini). Antioxidants. 2021; 10(12). Article 1900. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10121900.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10121900

Interpretive Summary: Indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini L.) is an evergreen tree that is common in the Middle East. Its medicinal properties are believed to be partially due to antioxidants in the aromatic essential oil extracted from the leaf tissue. In this study, the amount of essential oil that was extracted and the composition of essential oils were compared from the Spring and Winter seasons. The essential oils were then separated into different fractions to evaluate the composition and antioxidant activity of these fractions. The essential oil and the fractions were also made into a powder using a process called nanoencapsulation, and these powders were also evaluated for their antioxidant contents. The fractionation process as well as nanoencapsulation were found to produce fractions with high levels of antioxidants, while the nanoencapsulation process also appeared to preserve, and in some cases, enhance the levels of antioxidant activities. This research presents valuable information on the seasonal variation in Indian blackberry leaf essential oil, as well as methods for enhancing and preserving the essential oil antioxidants for food and other applications.

Technical Abstract: Indian blackberry (Syzygium cumini L.) is an evergreen tree in the Myrtaceae family. It is used in traditional medicine due to its significant bioactivities and presence of polyphenols with antioxidant activities. The present study describes the effect of seasonal variations on Indian blackberry leaf essential oil yield and chemical composition, production of fractions from essential oil using high vacuum fractional distillation and slow cooling to low temperature (-50 °C) under vacuum, and bioactivities of the essential oil, fractions, and nanoparticles. The results show that Indian blackberry essential oil yield was higher in spring season as compared to winter season. Indian blackberry essential oil fractionation processes were effective in separating and concentrating compounds with desired bioactivities. The bioactivities shown by magnesium nanoparticles were comparatively higher than barium nanoparticles.