Comparison of phytochemical profiles, cellular antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities in five varieties of wampee (Clausena lansium) fruits

Abstract

Wampee (Clausena lansium) fruit is a seasonal food containing high levels of bioactive phytochemicals which may be useful for health benefits. This study compared the phytochemical composition, total and cellular antioxidant activities (CAA) as well as anti-proliferative activities of five different varieties of wampee fruits. The results showed that six phytochemical compounds (vanillic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, syringin, catechin and hesperetin) were found in wampee fruits. Total antioxidant activities varied dramatically in these five varieties when measured with oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay and peroxyl radical scavenging capacity assay. The results also showed that wampee fruit extracts varied enormously in their CAA and exhibited significant anti-proliferative activities against HepG2 human liver cancer cells. These results suggest the potential of wampee fruits as functional foods and industrial application of wampee fruit in the future.