In Vitro Antioxidant, Antithrombotic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Bioactive Metabolites Extracted from Kiwi and Its By-Products
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Growing interest in natural, health-promoting ingredients for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics has increased the demand for bioactive compounds from kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa). This study aimed to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic properties of amphiphilic bioactives extracted from kiwi fruit and its by-products, including peel, seeds, and pulp. <b>Methods:</b> Bioactive compounds were extracted and analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects were assessed through inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in human platelets. <b>Results:</b> All extracts showed significant antioxidant activity. FTIR and LC-MS analyses confirmed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and polar lipids. Kiwi peel extract exhibited the strongest inhibition of PAF- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation, attributed to its higher content of phenolics and unsaturated polar lipids. LC-MS data indicated a favorable fatty acid profile with high omega-9 levels and a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio. Polar lipid structural analysis revealed a predominance of phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position. <b>Conclusions:</b> Kiwi by-products are valuable sources of health-promoting bioactives with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. These findings support their incorporation into nutraceutical, nutricosmetic, and cosmeceutical products and lay the groundwork for further studies on safety, efficacy, and practical application.
Authors
- Sushanta Kumar Saha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3981-8833)
- Katie Shiels (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1603-8882)
- Anna Ofrydopoulou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3925-6284)
- Αλέξανδρος Τσούπρας (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0837-9778)
- Anastasia Maria Moysidou
- Konstantina Cheimpeloglou
- Spyridoula Ioanna Koutra
- Vasileios Manousakis
Institutions
- Democritus University of Thrace (GR)
- Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre (IE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Metabolites
- Published
- 2025-06-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15060400
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.32
Funders
- Trakya Üniversitesi