Nutraceutical value of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) and its influence on some indices of atherosclerosis in an experiment on rats fed cholesterol-containing diet

The nutraceutic value of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb. cv. Triumph) and its influence on some indices of atherosclerosis were studied in vitro and in experiment on rats fed cholesterol-containing diet. It was found that persimmon possesses a high nutraceutical value: it contains soluble fibers, total polyphenols and phenolic acids. The content of dietary fiber was 1.83 ± 0.11, 0.69 ± 0.07 and 1.14 ± 0.12 g/100 g fresh weight (FW) for total, soluble and insoluble fibers, respectively, 1.55 ± 0.11 g/100 g FW of total polyphenols and 10.29 ± 0.9, 21.89 ± 2.2, 6.5 ± 0.5, 0.71 ± 0.05 and 58.2 ± 5.1 mg/100 g FW of ferulic, gallic, protocatechuic, vanillic and p-coumaric acids, respectively. Radical scavenging activity (RSA) with the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, a nitric oxide and β-carotene tests has shown 88% for methanolic persimmon extracts. The properties of fresh and dry persimmon were compared. High correlation was found between polyphenols and RSA with different tests (R² ranges between 0.9535 and 0.9934). Addition of persimmon to the diets did not affect diet intake, its efficiency or body weight gains of rats. Other persimmon cultivars (Fuyu and Jiro) were compared with cv. Triumph in vitro and in vivo studies. 'Fuyu' was more effective than 'Jiro'. Diets supplemented with whole fruit positively influenced some indices of atherosclerosis in serum of rats fed a cholesterol-containing diet: it hindered the rise of lipid levels and the decrease in the antioxidant activity.