Comprehensive profiling of chlorophylls, carotenoids extracts and their derivatives in leaves of fruit tree species and assessment of antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities

This study aimed to characterize the profiles and evaluate the bioactivity potential of chlorophyll- and carotenoid-rich extracts (Ch&C.Ex) obtained from the leaves of eight fruit tree species. A total, 52 compounds and their derivatives including pheophytins, phyllobilins, carotenes and xanthophylls were identified and quantified by LC-PDA-ESI/QTof-MS and UPLC-PDA. The extracts showed antioxidant activity (ABTS, ORAC), and inhibited key enzymes associated with antidiabetic (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase), neurodegenerative diseases (AChE, BChE), and inflammation (COX-1, COX-2, 15-LOX). Leaf Ch&C.Ex from pear, peach, and sweet cherry trees exhibited the strongest antidiabetic activity. Multivariate analyses as PCA, heatmap and correlation matrix confirmed that chlorophyll derivatives were strongly associated with antioxidant and neuroprotective activities, while carotenoids correlated with antidiabetic effects. These results suggest that fruit tree leaf are a potential source of bioactive compounds, chlorophylls and carotenoids, with possible applications in food and nutraceutical formulation.