2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), a native temperate berry from North America, is a rich source of cold and other abiotic stress adaptation relevant protective bioactives such as phenolic metabolites. These same abiotic stress-related phenolic bioactives of serviceberry also have human health relevant protective functions and can be targeted for dietary and therapeutic support against diet and oxidative stress-linked chronic diseases such as early stages of type 2 diabetes and associated health risks. However, human health relevant phenolic bioactive profiles and associated health benefits of serviceberry vary between cultivars, environment, maturity and post-harvest storage conditions. Based on this biochemical and physiological rationale, the objective of this study was to screen and determine phenolic bioactive-linked antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic properties of 20 serviceberry cultivars targeting dietary and therapeutic support against early stages of type 2 diabetes using rapid in vitro assay models. Cold water extracts (food grade) of 20 serviceberry cultivars from North America were evaluated for total soluble phenolic (TSP) content, phenolic acid profiles, total antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity), α−amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities using in vitro assay models. Significant differences in TSP content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro glucose metabolism relevant (α-amylase, and α-glucosidase) enzyme inhibitory activities were observed among serviceberry cultivars. High TSP content (2.8-3.2 mg/g FW) was observed in 12-1, 41-1, Parkhill, Smoky, and Buffalo cultivars, while high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay based antioxidant activity (80-100% inhibition) was observed in 14-2, Thiessen, 1-4, 1-2, and 18-1 cultivars. Furthermore, very high in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activities (>90%) and significant dose responses were also observed in all serviceberry cultivars. The result of this study provides biochemical rationale to select and target high phenolic and high antioxidant serviceberry cultivars for further animal model based in vivo and clinical studies targeting dietary and therapeutic applications against early stages type 2 diabetes and associated macro and micro-vascular complications.