Aneta Starzec, Danuta Raj, Izabela Fecka

Recent advances on health properties of orchard apple fruits (Malus × domestica Borkh.)
2020-04-27

Recent advances on health properties of orchard apple fruits (Malus × domestica Borkh.)

Apple fruits (Malus × domestica Borkh.) are considered one of the most important agricultural products in the world, both economically and culturally. Their key significance is indicated, among others, by the number of registered apple varieties, which in recent years has been estimated at around 10,000. Apples are a valuable component of the fruit and vegetable diet due to their taste and aroma, and mainly due to their favorable health-promoting properties, such as gastrointestinal, weight reduction promoting, anti-diabetic, antiatherosclerotic and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases or cancer. Recently, many articles have been published regarding the impact of apple consumption on various aspects of human health. The Scopus database alone lists over 2,300 articles about the impact of apples on the human wholesomeness in the years 1993–2019. Thus, due to the significant number of publications available in the literature, it was considered appropriate to prepare this review. The article aims to present the latest research results on the phytochemical composition of apples and the impact of their consumption on human health, with particular emphasis on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolemic, vasoprotective, antiproliferative activity, as well as supporting digestive system functions. The results presented in the review allow us to conclude that apple fruits, as well as preparations derived from them, can be considered as a valuable source of biologically active ingredients in the human diet. Studies have shown that they are mainly polysaccharides (dietary fiber) and polyphenols such as: chlorogenic acid, phlori(d)zin, quercetin glycosides, catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins. Their consumption results in a lower risk of many non-communicable diseases, in particular chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases and some types of cancer. Therefore, it is believed that M. domestica fruit should be a regular part of the daily diet.

Keywords: Malus domestica, apple, health-promoting properties, polyphenols, dietary fiber, antioxidants.

© Farm Pol, 2020, 76(3): 137–148