ff**ects of In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Antioxidant Capacity and Anthocyanin Content of Cornelian Cherry Fruit Extract**

#### **Luminita David 1, Virgil Danciu 1, Bianca Moldovan 1,\* and Adriana Filip 2**

Received: 1 April 2019; Accepted: 26 April 2019; Published: 30 April 2019

**Abstract:** Red fruits are considered a major source of antioxidant compounds in the human diet. They usually contain anthocyanins, phenolic pigments that confer them multiple health-promoting properties. The health benefits of these bioactive phytocompounds are strongly related to their bioavailability, which has been reported to be low. The aim of the present study is to investigate the changes in antioxidant capacity and anthocyanin content of Cornelian cherry fruit extract during gastrointestinal digestion. Thus, the work was designed using a simulated in vitro digestion model. The antioxidant capacity (AA) was tested by the 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazolyne-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation (ABTS) method, while quantification of anthocyanins (TAC) was accomplished by the means of the pH di fferential method and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that gastric digestion had no significant e ffect on the TAC of the extract, while the AA slightly increased. After duodenal digestion, only 28.33% of TAC and 56.74% of AA were maintained. Cornelian cherries' anthocyanins were stable in stomach, so they can be absorbed in order to manifest their antioxidant capacity at the cellular level. The duodenal digestion dramatically decreased the TAC and AA level in the fruit extract.

**Keywords:** cornelian cherry; antioxidant capacity; anthocyanins; gastrointestinal digestion


**Pulmonary embolism**

Pulmonary embolism is an example of a pre-capillary PH. It may occur before, during or after CPB leading to the development or the exacerbation of PH. Thrombus, air and even carbon dioxide (Martineau et al., 2003) can cause pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolisms are rare in the immediate cardiac postoperative period. However, patients at risk include patients with predisposing factors to PH and patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) (Fig. **6**). The incidence of CTEPH is uncertain, but it represents a frequent cause of PH occurring in up to 4% of patients after an acute pulmonary embolism (Pengo et al., 2004; Tapson & Humbert, 2006).

Fig. 6. Chronic pulmonary embolism. (**A, B**) Mid-esophageal ascending aorta (Ao) long-axis view in a 65-year-old woman with chronic pulmonary embolism shows the mobile clot adherent to the right pulmonary artery (RPA) wall. *(*LA: left atrium; LV: left ventricle). With permission from Denault *et al*. (Denault et al., 2010a).