The profiles of durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) shell phenolics and their antioxidant effects on H2O2-treated HepG2 cells as well as the metabolites and organ distribution in rats

Durian is a nutritious tropical fruit with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-cancer effects. However, the durian shell was mainly discarded as waste, while there were few studies on the charac-terization of its phenolic profiles, antioxidant activities, and in vivo metabolites. In the present study, a total of 17 compounds were identified in durian shell extract (DSE) by using an ultra-high-performance liquid chroma-tography coupled with linear ion trap quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS), while 33 metabolites were found in rats' plasma, urine and organ. Moreover, DSE could effectively reduce H2O2- induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells, reduce the expression of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Malon-dialdehyde (MDA) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and inhibit apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bcl-2-Associated X (BAX), B-Cell Lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 genes and proteins related to mito-chondrial pathway apoptosis. This is the first comprehensive report on Durian shell phenolics, their metabolic profiles and underlying mechanisms of the in vitro antioxidant activities.

Automated summary

Durian is a nutritious tropical fruit with various health benefits. The study focuses on the durian shell, which is often discarded as waste. The research identifies compounds and metabolites in the durian shell extract and explores its antioxidant properties and potential mechanisms of action.