Study On Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activity And Anti-Fatigue Function Of Fruits Of Padus L.

Compared with artificial color, the natural pigment is safer, and has a certain function of nutrition and health. There are rich resources and varieties of natural pigment in China, however so far, only more than 40 species are allowed in use, and others have not been studied. Therefore, it is imperative to develop the natural food color. Padus racemosa and Padus virginiana are Rosaceae Genus Prunus, which are fine garden ornamental tree species, growing in the south and north of China. The studies of Padus racemosa and Padus virginiana mostly focus on the composition of their leaves and the breeding of their seedings, but there are no reports about the study of the color of their fruits.In order to provide helpful references for the further development and utilization of red pigment from fruits of Padus L., this paper compared the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity in vitro of Padus L., and then based on large fruit of Padus virginiana, the antioxidant activity in vitro of the color before and after purified were compared. Finally, the anti-fitigue effect and antioxidant activity in vivo of purified color were studied. Specific results were as follows:(1) Pigment extracted from fruits of Padus racemosa and Padus virginiana maintained the natural color when pH≤3. The three kinds of pigment had higher stability to light and heat, but relatively sensibility to oxidant and reductant. Except Fe2+, Fe3+and Cu2+, other metal ions had no adverse effect on their properties. In some common food additives, citric acid had hyperchromic effect; ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate had hypochromic effect; sucrose and glucose had no significant effect on the stability of three kinds of pigment.(2) The result which studied the crude liquid of the three kinds of pigment indicated they had different levels of antioxidant capacity. Among them, the strongest power was Padus racemosa fruit pigment, but all less than Vc.(3) The study on antioxidant capacity in vitro of large fruit of Padus virginiana showed that purified solution had a strong ability of anti-lipid peroxidation and deoxidation, and could effectively eliminate DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging. The antioxidant capacity of crude extract was weaker than the purified liquid, perhaps because of the high content of anthocyanin in purified solution at work.(4) Pigment extracted from large fruit of Padus virginiana could significantly improve mice's athletic ability, decrease the content of BLA and BUN, and increase the content of LG and MG, revealing its good anti-fatigue effect.(5) Pigment extracted from large fruit of Padus virginiana could improve the activity of SOD, GSH-Px and CAT, also decrease the content of MDA in mice liver, and thus had the antioxidant capacity, besides anti-fatigue effect and antioxidant capacity had significant correlation.In sum, the color of Padus L. not only has perfect stability, but also has antioxidant capacity and anti-fatigue activity, so it is a kind of worth developing color.