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Is it possible to use the stalks of Gossypium hirsitum L., an important by-product of cotton cultivation, as an alternative source of bioactive components?

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Abstract

In recent years, agricultural waste materials and wild plants have become alternative raw materials for the source of bioactive components. This study included the data from antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory assays (cholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase) on Gossypium hirsutum L. stalk extracts as well as HPLC technique. Flavonoid contents of the extracts were found to be low, while the amounts of phenolics were found as 14.38 and 13.22 µmol gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g dry plant (dp) in the methanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The extracts were determined to contain significant amounts of apigenin, quercetin, (−)-epicatechin, and protocatechuic acid. The extracts exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity almost in all tests. In addition, the methanolic and aqueous extracts showed promising inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase. Phenolics, in particular, p-hydroxybenzoic and benzoic acids, were found to be in correlation with the activities of the extracts. It was concluded that the stalk, which is the post-harvest field trash of the cotton cultivation, is an alternative source of bioactive molecules and can be used in pharmaceutical and food industries for its anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Scientific Research Council of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta-Turkey under Project No. 1592-D-07.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Institute, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Bulent Kirkan

  2. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Cengiz Sarikurkcu

  3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Literature, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Mahmut Copuroglu & Mustafa Cengiz

  4. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Literature, Kilis 7 Aralik University, Kilis, Turkey

    Bektas Tepe

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  1. Bulent Kirkan
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  2. Cengiz Sarikurkcu
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Correspondence to Bulent Kirkan.

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Kirkan, B., Sarikurkcu, C., Copuroglu, M. et al. Is it possible to use the stalks of Gossypium hirsitum L., an important by-product of cotton cultivation, as an alternative source of bioactive components?. Eur Food Res Technol 244, 1065–1071 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-017-3029-5

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