Traditional varieties and wild pear from Serbia: a link among antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities of fruit peel and flesh

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of methanolic extracts of peel, flesh and mixed peel, and flesh, as well as the cytotoxic activity of mixed peel and flesh extracts obtained from fruits of six traditional pear varieties (Vidovača, Lubeničarka, Karamanka, Jeribasma, Lončara and Takiāa), one commercial variety (Williams Bartlett) and a wild pear (Pyrus communis) from Serbia. The tested extracts showed strong antioxidant activity regarding the prevention of β-carotene bleaching and high α-glucosidase inhibition, and no significant cytotoxic potential, with the exception of the Williams Bartlett and Pyrus communis extracts. Overall, the most potent fruit part was shown to be the peel. The most active variety in all of the applied antioxidant and antidiabetic assays was Takiša, while the wild pear, P. communis, was the most effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, several methanolic extracts of pear fruit are promising candidates for further studies regarding the prevention and treatment of pathological conditions associated with the effects of oxidative stress, such as diabetes and even colorectal cancer.