Polyphenolic compounds and anthocyanin content of Prosopis nigra and Prosopis alba pods flour and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities

P. alba flour showed significantly higher total (sum of Free- and Bound) phenolic content and total flavonoid compounds than P. nigra (p < 0.05) while P. nigra had higher concentrations of anthocyanins than P. alba (p < 0.05). The P. nigra flour shows a pattern characterized by the occurrence of anthocyanins as well as 14 flavonoid glycosides, with higher chemical diversity than P. alba, which shows 8 flavonoid glycosides as relevant constituents. The main compounds were quercetin O-glycosides and apigenin-based C-glycosides. The phenolic composition of two South American algarrobo pod flour is presented for the first time. P. nigra pods having higher content of anthocyanins are darker (purple) than those of P. alba (light brown). Furthermore, the sugar-free polyphenolic extracts of P. nigra and P. alba as well as anthocyanins enriched extracts from P. nigra showed antioxidant activity. P. nigra and P. alba polyphenolic extracts showed activity against a pro-inflammatory enzyme. In conclusion, algarrobo pods meal contained biologically active polyphenols, with a positive impact on human health.