Black raspberry seed oil - Chemical composition, antioxidant/antimicrobial activities and in vitro wound-healing potential

This study aimed to perform chemical characterization of black raspberry seed oil (Rubus occidentalis L., Rosaceae) from Serbia in terms of fatty acids and tocols composition, total carotenoid content, as well as to investigate its antioxidant/antimicrobial activities and in vitro wound-healing potential. GC/MS analysis revealed that linoleic (39.30 %), alpha-linolenic (30.49 %) and oleic (18.94 %) acid were dominant fatty acids. HPLC analysis highlighted gamma-tocopherol as the prevailing tocopherol isomer (166.80 mg/100 g). Spectrophotometric method determined a total carotenoid content of 1.20 mg/100 g. Appreciable antiradical activity (DPPH - IC50 3.02 mg/mL; ABTS - IC50 1.33 mg/mL) and a high level of reducing ability (FRAP value of 393.74 mu mol Fe2+/100 g) were observed. Significant antibacterial activity against Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, in addition to antifungal activity against strains from Aspergillus and Trichoderma genera, was demonstrated. By cell viability assay, no cytotoxicity (IC50 > 401 mu g/mL) was established on human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). The wound-healing activity, evaluated by scratch assay, was found to be 2.41-fold higher in HaCaT cells treated with 100 mu g/mL of black raspberry seed oil (41.77 %) than in non-treated cells (17.34 %). Taken together, black raspberry seed oil holds promising health potential.