Antioxidant and antifungal properties of flower and fruit extracts of Arbutus unedo L. from Morocco

This study investigated the phytochemical composition and evaluated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the fruits and, for the first time, from the flowers of the Moroccan strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.). LC-MS/MS analysis enabled the identification and quantification of several bioactive compounds. Flower extracts exhibited higher concentrations of portocatechuic and vanillic acids, whereas gentisic acid levels were similar in both flower and fruit extracts. Mineral analysis revealed higher concentrations of calcium, potassium, and iron in flowers, while fruits showed elevated levels of selenium and strontium. Notably, DPPH radical scavenging assays demonstrated that flower extracts possessed the strongest antioxidant activity. Regarding antifungal activity, fruit extracts showed superior inhibitory effects on the growth of Fusarium oxysporum. Overall, these results suggest that A. unedo flowers and fruits are promising sources of phytochemically rich extracts with notable antioxidant and antifungal properties.