Effects of simulated digestion on the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of different cultivars of lychee pericarp

BACKGROUND: Lychee pericarp is rich in phenolic and has good antioxidant activity. The effects of simulated gastric (SGF) and intestinal fluid (SIF) digestion on the contents, composition, and antioxidant activities of the phenolic substances in the pericarp of different lychee cultivars (cv Jizui, Lizhiwang, Guiwei, Yuhe, Nuomici and Guihong) were investigated. RESULTS: Compared with distilled water (DW) treatment, the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in the pericarp of different lychee cultivars decreased after SGF digestion; especially, the TFC in “Lizhiwang” decreased by 41.5%. The TPC and TFC of lychee pericarp also decreased after SIF digestion. However, the TPC in “Jizui”, “Guiwei” and “Yuhe” increased. The SGF and SIF also had different effects on the FRAP and ABTS antioxidant activities of different lychee cultivars. The SGF digestion decreased the ABTS antioxidant capacity of lychee pericarp but enhanced the FRAP value of some lychee cultivars. However, the SIF digestion decreased the FRAP antioxidant activity of different lychee cultivar pericarps but enhanced the ABTS antioxidant capacity of lychee. The HPLC results showed that lychee pericarp had relatively high contents of procyanidin B2 and procyanidin A2. After SIF digestion, caffeic acid and isoquercitrin could not be detected in any of the lychee varieties. However, quercetin-3-rutinose-7-rhamnoside and isoquercitrin were increased after SGF digestion. CONCLUSIONS: Lychee pericarp could be used as an inexpensive functional food ingredient.