The Benefits of Fruit Extract
Fruit extract involves removing the essence or taste of fruits through steam or alcohol. It is usually diluted with water to make a concentrate, which will have some flavour but not the nutritional value of a full-strength extract.
Previous studies and meta-analysis showed that oral intake of fruits or fruit extracts can significantly improve skin elasticity, wrinkle depth, minimum erythema dose (MED), and transcutaneous water loss (TEWL). This study further explores these findings.
Phytochemicals
Recent scientific studies have established a direct link between consumption of phytochemicals and prevention of major chronic diseases. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive, bioactive plant compounds that can be found in fruits and vegetables. They include carotenoids, polyphenols, isoprenoids, fatty acids, phytosterols, saponins, and dietary fibers.
They have been shown to exhibit a range of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. They can also act as chemopreventive agents by repairing mutated genes and slowing cancer cell growth.
The use of encapsulation technology has been shown to improve the availability of phytochemicals for human physiology and clinical applications. One example is Campomanesia xanthocarpa O Berg (guabiroba) fruit extract encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles, which reduced reactive oxygen species and enhanced cellular cytotoxicity in colon cancer cells. Thin layer chromatography confirmed the presence of several different phytochemical components.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants in fruit extracts, including lycopene and vitamin C, help to protect skin from UV damage. In addition, prickly pear (Callicarpa japonica) fruit extract has been shown to exhibit antimicrobial and anticancer properties in vitro.
Many phenolic compounds in fruits have antioxidant activities. For example, a methanolic extract of a Brazilian native fruit jambul and acerola have high antioxidant capacity. In particular, phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins, quercetin and kaempherol, and alkaloids such as sanguinarine have been shown to have antimicrobial activity.
The antimicrobial activity of phytochemicals in fruit extracts is due to different mechanisms such as radical scavenging, chelation or complexation of metal ions, modification of cell envelope, and inhibition of enzyme activities. They are an attractive alternative to synthetic antioxidants like butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, which can cause adverse effects on health.
Antimicrobial agents
A number of fruit phytochemicals act as antimicrobial agents. They are used in combination with other preservation techniques to inhibit the growth of spoilage microorganisms and pathogens. They are also widely used in preserving fresh fruits and vegetables. Antimicrobial agents are usually natural compounds that contain organic acids and phenolic compounds.
Inhibition of bacterial growth is the primary function of antimicrobial agents. They can be fruit Extract derived from plants or manufactured by chemical companies. Natural products are the most effective and safest. They are often cheaper and less toxic than synthetic chemicals.
Ethanolic extracts of Apple (Malus pumila), Guava (Psidium guajava) and Pineapple have shown antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), Vibrio cholerae, Enterococcus cloacae and Klebsiella pneumonia. The methanolic extract of Pineapple had slightly larger inhibition zones than the ethanolic extracts.
Anticancer agents
The fruits of Liquidambar styraciflua are rich in bioactive compounds and have been shown to possess anticancer activity. In this study, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of red guava fruit were evaluated for their chemical composition and biological activity against human cancer cells. Both the aqueous and methanolic extracts of red guava significantly inhibited cell proliferation. The methanolic extract also induced apoptosis in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The apoptosis was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3 and the degradation of PARP.
Currently, the most effective treatment for TNBC is the combination of anthracyclines and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors. This combination reduces the sensitivity of TNBC to conventional therapies that target ER and Her-2 receptors. Goji berry fruit and leaf extracts suppressed the proliferation of TNBC cells by inhibiting EGFR-mediated MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.
Anti-inflammatory agents
Fruit extracts are known to help prevent dandruff, strengthen hair, contribute shine, and promote healthy new growth. They are also renowned for their anti-inflammatory properties, which can be utilized to calm redness and soothe irritation.
Powder Fruit Extracts are water-soluble, making them ideal for use in soap and other skin-care products that require a high degree of mildness. They can be combined with alpha hydroxy acids, which can slough away dead skin cells and brighten and smooth the complexion.
Prickly pear extract has been shown to exhibit significant anti-inflammatory properties and may even help to reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles. It is also an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C. It can inhibit oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, reduce lipid peroxidation, and increase collagen production.
Anti-bacterial agents
Powder fruit extracts have antimicrobial properties and can be used to cleanse hair, nourish, fortify and soften it, promote growth and health of the scalp, contribute shine, and prevent dandruff. They can also balance skin tone and help remove dark spots, blemishes, stains and tans.
Berry extracts contain condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), which have been shown to prevent symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by uropathogenic strains of E. coli. Citric acid has been shown to inhibit the growth of a number of pathogenic bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae. It also prevents fruit Extract Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm from absorbing nutrients, which can result in antibiotic resistance. In addition, grape extracts inhibit cholera toxin and the diphtheria toxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The phenolic compounds in grapes are also known to act as antioxidants and prevent bacterial toxins from developing in the cells of host plants.
Anti-fungal agents
Fungi are the major causes of significant losses in post harvest fruits during storage. Studies have shown that some plants or herbal extracts can restrict the growth of fungi. These compounds may inhibit fungi by directly or indirectly suppressing their virulence factors.
In this study, the methanolic extracts of Z. spina-christi leaves and fruit were tested for their antifungal properties. The results showed that both extracts reduced the mycelial diameter of the fungus A. alternata, A. citri, and A. radicina on tomato fruits. They also significantly suppressed the aggressiveness of the fungus on wounded and unwounded tomato fruits.
The crude extract of Nitraria schoberi (Zygophyllaceae) fruits was investigated for its antibacterial, antioxidant and antifungal activities using the disc diffusion, microdilution, and agar dilution methods. The extract significantly inhibited the growth of four Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter aerogenes.