‘Fengtang’ plum seed waste: Phytochemicals and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro

During ‘Fengtang’ plum fruit processing, the seeds as by-products are discarded as waste. Nevertheless, its seed has edible and medicinal value. Thus, we investigated the phytochemical constituents of ‘Fengtang’ plum seed and explored its anti-colitis effects and related mechanisms. ‘Fengtang’ plum seed 70% ethanol extract (EE) and water extract (WE) were found to be abundant in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Fifty-five phytochemicals identified by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS analysis included 12 phenols and 8 flavonoids. In LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, EE inhibited the ROS/MAPK/NF-κB pathway, thereby repressing IL-6, IL-1β, NO, PGE 2 , and TNF-α oversecretion. Additionally, the DSS-induced pathological symptoms of colon mice, including weight loss, colon shortening, and DAI score rise, were considerably alleviated. It also significantly suppressed inflammatory cytokine secretion and reduced ROS generation by increasing CAT and SOD activities and decreasing MDA levels in tissue fluid and serum. Therefore, ‘Fengtang’ plum seed has potential utilization value in the field of functional foods. • ‘Fengtang’ plum seed waste has intestinal protective effects. • ‘Fengtang’ plum seed was rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. • It suppressed ROS-mediated activation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways. • It improved colitis by reducing DSS-induced inflammatory cytokine and ROS levels. • ‘Fengtang’ plum seed waste has high exploitation potential in functional food field.