Analysis of Metabolomic Profiles and Evaluation of Biological Activities of Six Blackberry Cultivars

Blackberries (Rubus sp.) are widely consumed fruits and are used in many processing products. Blackberry is known to have high antioxidant activity and prevent various diseases by its bioactive compounds including flavonoids and phenolic acids. Particularly, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside is a consistently predominant anthocyanin, which is responsible for the dark color in blackberry and has been reported to exert prominent bioactivity including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-neurodegenerative activities. Considering the rapid expansion of blackberry applications and the importance of their efficient use, it is essential to comprehend their nutritional profiles. This study aimed to compare the metabolomic profiles and biological activities of six different blackberry cultivars to better understand their nutritional and therapeutic potential. The targeted and untargeted analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the metabolites present in blackberries. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis revealed a distinct clustering pattern of metabolites for each blackberry. The BL cultivars indicated high amounts of sugar, organic acid, and amino acid. The F cultivars showed high amounts of anthocyanin. We also measured the antioxidant contents and activities and the anti-inflammatory properties of six blackberry cultivars. Among six blackberries, the F6 cultivar had the highest antioxidant content and activities. In addition, the F6 cultivar protected the lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages by decreasing the generation of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and reactive oxygen species.