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Plant Source Foods
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) belongs to the Ebenaceae family. It is widespread in China, Japan, and Korea, where it is traditionally used for medicinal purposes. The whole fruit is edible, with the exemption of its seed and calyx. The color of the fruit varies from yellow or orange to deep red (Figure 5.1), (112). Persimmon fruits are usually classified into astringent and non-astringent varieties depending upon their taste. Persimmon is rich in carbohydrate (sugar), dietary fiber and is low in fats. It is also high in manganese and vitamins A, B6, and C. Persimmon contains many bioactive phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein, which are important antioxidants with high therapeutic potential (112). They prevent oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, safeguard beta cells of the pancreas, and reduce cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and damage caused by chronic alcohol consumption (112). Persimmon might promote weight loss, protect eyes, improve digestion, lower hypertension, delay aging, and boost immune function. Persimmons are flavored, eaten fresh with peel or dried and used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, some vitamins and antioxidants in dried persimmons can be lost after drying and storage.
Protecting HaCaT cells from ionizing radiation using persimmon tannin-Aloe gel composite
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2020
Xi Qian, Zhongmin Wang, Jinliang Ning, Chaoke Qin, Lin Gao, Na He, Dahong Lin, Zhide Zhou, Guiyin Li
Tannin, also known as tannic acid, is widely found in many natural plants such as persimmons (Diospyros kaki L.f [Ebenaceae]), tea leaves, ginkgo leaves, and grape seeds. It has a complex polyphenolic hydroxyl structure that is soluble in water and some organic solutions. Nowadays, Guangxi produces the most persimmons in China (Wang et al. 2017; Li et al. 2019). In order to ensure that most persimmons can mature normally, some green persimmons must be removed. Numerous studies have shown that green persimmons contain large amounts of persimmon tannin (Zhou et al. 2015; Ying et al. 2017). Persimmon tannin has proven useful for the prevention and treatment of ionizing radiation pollution (Wang et al. 2017; Wu et al. 2017; Li et al. 2018). Wu et al. (2015) studied the protective effect of tannin acid on human megakaryocyte injury induced by ionizing radiation. By pretreating human megakaryocytes with different concentrations of tannin, it was shown that tannic acid provided effective protection after 10 Gy 60Co γ-ray irradiation. Recently, our group indicated that persimmon tannin offered a potent radioprotective effect on cell vitality and cell apoptosis of γ-radiation exposure in HEK 293 T cells (Zhou et al. 2016).
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) in Experimental Rodent Rheumatoid Arthritis
Published in Journal of Dietary Supplements, 2020
Rosa Direito, João Rocha, Ana-Teresa Serra, Adelaide Fernandes, Marisa Freitas, Eduarda Fernandes, Rui Pinto, Rosário Bronze, Bruno Sepodes, Maria-Eduardo Figueira
Persimmons are rich in polyphenols, such as p-coumaric, catechin, epicatechin, epigallo catechin, condensed tannin (proanthocyanidins) (Giordani et al. 2011), and gallic acid (Gorinstein et al. 1994), and are known to contain proanthocyanidins (Halsam and Lilley 1988). Matsuo (1978) identified kaki-tannin in a Japanese persimmon and found that the tannin consisted of catechin, catechin-gallate, gallocatechin, and gallocatechin-gallate (Matsuo 1978). Other authors (Sattar et al. 1992) determined spectrophotometrically the total catechin content and total procyanidin content of persimmon. Catechins (flavan-3-ols) are polyphenolic compounds that may offer potential benefits to human health. They are related to various physiological functions, including a protective role against oxidative stress-related diseases, and antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic capacities (Suzuki et al. 2005). Catechins, as well as persimmon extracts, are known to induce apoptosis of Molt 4B cells (Achiwa et al. 1997). In more recent studies, persimmon pro-cyanidins have been associated with various biological functions, including antioxidant (Jang et al. 2010; Tian et al. 2011; Tian et al. 2012), anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (Borges-Argaez et al. 2007), hypolipidemic (Gorinstein et al. 1998; Kondo et al. 2004; Fukai et al. 2009; Zou et al. 2012), and antidiabetic activities (Lee et al. 2006) Persimmon pro-cyanidins have also been associated to a reduction of the risk of developing atherosclerosis (Park et al. 2008). Catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid (Chen et al. 2008), carotenoids (Daood et al. 1992), procyanidins (Suzuki et al. 2005; Gu et al. 2008), and ascorbic acid (Homnava et al. 1990) are the main antioxidants in persimmon (Jung et al. 2005; Park et al. 2008). Persimmon is a widely consumed fruit, characterized by its high proanthocyanidin content (Uchida et al. 1990; Achiwa et al. 1997). Beyond the low molecular weight phenols in the edible part of persimmon, a total of 32 other compounds were detected recently, including gallic acid and its glycoside and acyl derivatives, glycosides of p-coumaric, vanillic and cinnamic acids, and different di-C-hexosides (Sentandreu et al. 2014). Gu et al (2008) described that proanthocyanidin from persimmon had more antioxidant activity than grape seed proanthocyanidin, suggesting that persimmon may be a source of therapeutically interesting polyphenolics (Gu et al. 2008). In fact, persimmon proanthocyanidin has also been associated with antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and atherosclerosis prevention (Gorinstein et al. 2000).