Antiradical activities and phytochemical compounds of firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) fruit extracts

Firethorn fruits have been used in traditional medicine owing to their diuretic, cardiac and tonic properties. In this study, the antiradical activities and phenolic, phytosterol, lipid-soluble vitamin and fatty acid contents of firethorn fruits were investigated. Antiradical activities of firethorn extracts (ethanol, water, methanol, acetone and diethyl ether) were determined by using DPPH(·), ABTS(·+) and OH(·) radical-scavenging assays. The scavenging activity of the firethorn ethanol, methanol and acetone extracts on ABTS is higher than BHT. The scavenging activity of the firethorn methanol and ethanol extracts on DPPH is higher than BHT. δ-Tocopherol, α-tocopherol, vitamin K, vitamin D, β-sitosterol, ergosterol, stigmasterol, and the major fatty acids linolenic acid and palmitic acid were determined in firethorn. These results indicate that firethorn can be a good source of natural antioxidant owing to the presence of fatty acids, vitamins, phytosterols and phenolic compounds, and antiradical properties. Moreover, this study is the first report about antiradical and phytochemical properties of Pyracantha coccinea fruit extracts.