Phytochemical composition and in vitro functional properties of three wild rose hips and their traditional preserves

- Rosa dumalis, R. dumetorum and R. sempervirens hips were subject of this study.
- Study included fresh and air-dried rose hips, purée and jam of each species.
- Phenolic profile and ascorbic acid content were investigated.
- Antioxidant activity was determined using six in vitro assays.
- Anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities were examined.

The aim of the present study was investigation of the phenolic profile, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of rose hips and the preserves (purée and jam) of three insufficiently examined Rosa species: Rosa dumalis Bechst., R. dumetorum Thuill. and R. sempervirens L. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis resulted in quantification of 14 of the 45 phenolic compounds examined, with ellagic acid as the most dominant. Notable antioxidant activity of all three species was confirmed through several assays. Moderate inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by extracts of all investigated Rosa species was observed. Several extracts of examined Rosa species demonstrated inhibition potency towards production of some monitored eicosanoids in cyclooxygenase-1 and 12-lipoxygenase pathways. Two R. sempervirens extracts exerted cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HT-29 cell lines, but were inactive towards MRC-5 and MCF7. The results support the potential of these rose hips as food with health-promoting properties.