Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species

<i>Viola</i>, an edible wild plant, is valued for its distinctive flavor and health-promoting properties. This study examines the proximate composition, bioactive compounds, and in vitro biological activities of seven <i>Viola</i> leaves (<i>Viola prionantha</i>,...

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Main Authors: Guangnian Zeng, Xingfan Li, Chunbo Zhao, Yongkang Pang, Xiongfei Luo, Zhonghua Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/302
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author Guangnian Zeng
Xingfan Li
Chunbo Zhao
Yongkang Pang
Xiongfei Luo
Zhonghua Tang
author_facet Guangnian Zeng
Xingfan Li
Chunbo Zhao
Yongkang Pang
Xiongfei Luo
Zhonghua Tang
author_sort Guangnian Zeng
collection DOAJ
description <i>Viola</i>, an edible wild plant, is valued for its distinctive flavor and health-promoting properties. This study examines the proximate composition, bioactive compounds, and in vitro biological activities of seven <i>Viola</i> leaves (<i>Viola prionantha</i>, <i>Viola collina</i>, <i>Viola acuminata</i>, <i>Viola variegata</i>, <i>Viola tokubuchiana</i> var. <i>takedana</i>, <i>Viola mirabilis,</i> and <i>Viola philippica</i>). Findings reveal that the leaves of the seven <i>Viola</i> species are rich in phenolic compounds (131.13 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g fresh weight (FW)–384.80 mg GAE/100 g FW), flavonoids (13.09 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/100 g FW–40.08 mg RE/100 g FW), fatty acids (palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and α-linolenic acid), and essential minerals, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The leaf extracts demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (84.17%) and pancreatic lipase (77.54%) at a concentration of 1 g of extract per milliliter of solution. Additionally, the biological activity of <i>Viola</i> leaves, particularly their antioxidant capacity, is associated with their phenolic and flavonoid content, with caffeic acid contributing up to 35.2% of the total phenolic acids and isoquercitrin being one of the most bioavailable flavonoids. These results indicate that <i>Viola</i> offers potential notable health benefits, presenting a valuable addition to enhancing modern dietary patterns and overall health.
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spelling doaj-art-7ee915b86e7f44a69a87def8b1402a6c2025-01-24T13:33:12ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-01-0114230210.3390/foods14020302Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> SpeciesGuangnian Zeng0Xingfan Li1Chunbo Zhao2Yongkang Pang3Xiongfei Luo4Zhonghua Tang5College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, ChinaCollege of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Resource Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China<i>Viola</i>, an edible wild plant, is valued for its distinctive flavor and health-promoting properties. This study examines the proximate composition, bioactive compounds, and in vitro biological activities of seven <i>Viola</i> leaves (<i>Viola prionantha</i>, <i>Viola collina</i>, <i>Viola acuminata</i>, <i>Viola variegata</i>, <i>Viola tokubuchiana</i> var. <i>takedana</i>, <i>Viola mirabilis,</i> and <i>Viola philippica</i>). Findings reveal that the leaves of the seven <i>Viola</i> species are rich in phenolic compounds (131.13 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g fresh weight (FW)–384.80 mg GAE/100 g FW), flavonoids (13.09 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/100 g FW–40.08 mg RE/100 g FW), fatty acids (palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and α-linolenic acid), and essential minerals, such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The leaf extracts demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (84.17%) and pancreatic lipase (77.54%) at a concentration of 1 g of extract per milliliter of solution. Additionally, the biological activity of <i>Viola</i> leaves, particularly their antioxidant capacity, is associated with their phenolic and flavonoid content, with caffeic acid contributing up to 35.2% of the total phenolic acids and isoquercitrin being one of the most bioavailable flavonoids. These results indicate that <i>Viola</i> offers potential notable health benefits, presenting a valuable addition to enhancing modern dietary patterns and overall health.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/302wild edible plant<i>Viola</i>proximate compositionphenolic compoundscoumarinsbioactive properties
spellingShingle Guangnian Zeng
Xingfan Li
Chunbo Zhao
Yongkang Pang
Xiongfei Luo
Zhonghua Tang
Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species
Foods
wild edible plant
<i>Viola</i>
proximate composition
phenolic compounds
coumarins
bioactive properties
title Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species
title_full Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species
title_fullStr Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species
title_full_unstemmed Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species
title_short Proximate Composition and In Vitro Bioactive Properties of Leaf Extracts from Seven <i>Viola</i> Species
title_sort proximate composition and in vitro bioactive properties of leaf extracts from seven i viola i species
topic wild edible plant
<i>Viola</i>
proximate composition
phenolic compounds
coumarins
bioactive properties
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/2/302
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AT xingfanli proximatecompositionandinvitrobioactivepropertiesofleafextractsfromseveniviolaispecies
AT chunbozhao proximatecompositionandinvitrobioactivepropertiesofleafextractsfromseveniviolaispecies
AT yongkangpang proximatecompositionandinvitrobioactivepropertiesofleafextractsfromseveniviolaispecies
AT xiongfeiluo proximatecompositionandinvitrobioactivepropertiesofleafextractsfromseveniviolaispecies
AT zhonghuatang proximatecompositionandinvitrobioactivepropertiesofleafextractsfromseveniviolaispecies