Phytochemical Content of Hawthorn (Crataegus elbursensis) Fruit Extract and Release Behavior from Biopolymer Matrices

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Somayeh Rahaiee 1
Mahboobeh Zare 2
Saeed Ghanbari Hassan Kiadeh 1
1 Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2 Department of Medicinal Plant, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
Hawthorn (Crataegus elbursensis) is extensively utilized in both pharmaceutical and food-related applications due to its abundance of bioactive compounds. However, its application is restrained due to its relative instability. Microencapsulation is a good approach for overcoming this challenge. In the present study, the total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents of the hydroalcoholic hawthorn fruit extract (HFE) were investigated, and its antioxidant capacity was evaluated by the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The HFE was encapsulated with combined hydrocolloids (Sage-Basil, Sage-Balangu, and Balangu-Basil), and the in vitro release profile of the HFE was examined. The results showed the total phenol and anthocyanin content of HFE to be 17.9 ± 3.78 mg GAE/g DW and 10.6 ± 0.1 mg cyanidin/g DW, respectively. Additionally, the highest amount of anthocyanin release was observed in the SIF (pH 7.4), with a maximum release value of 98.16 ± 3.23% for Sage-Balangu after 48 h. In general, the results showed that combined hydrocolloid carriers, especially Sage-Balangu, can effectively encapsulate and control the release of HFE for medicinal purposes.
Keywords
Antioxidant activity
Anthocyanin
Hawthorn fruit
Hydrocolloids
In vitro release
Subjects
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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 September 2026