DNA-Protecting and Radical Scavenging Activities of Coffee Husk (Cascara) Robusta and Arabica Extracts
Abstract
Increased coffee production leads to higher coffee husk (Cascara) waste, which presents an environmental challenge. Cascara has mainly been utilized for fertilizer and animal feed, offering limited economic value. The compounds in cascara have antioxidant properties that promise to prevent chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress, including cancer and aging. However, no evidence exists that cascara effectively safeguards DNA from disease-causing free radicals. The study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and DNA damage protection properties of cascara from Robusta and Arabica coffee, which were extracted using water and 70% ethanol. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging method, and DNA protection was evaluated by subjecting the extract to a pUC19 cutting reaction with hydroxyl radicals from the Fenton reaction. The amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds was quantitatively analysed using the colorimetric method, while the qualitative analysis of flavonoid compounds was conducted using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The ethanol extract of Robusta cascara demonstrates the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 297.74 mg/L and a 62.13% inhibition of DNA damage. This efficacy is attributed to the abundance of phenolic compounds (214.80 mg CAE/g extract) and flavonoids (13.61 mg QE/g extract) present in the extract, which are believed to contribute to these activities through radical scavenging, iron chelation, and stabilization of DNA structure. Cascara Robusta and Arabica extracts feature distinct flavonoid profiles, as evidenced by the TLC findings. This suggests that the type of flavonoid in the extract also influences antioxidant activity and DNA protection in addition to the quantity of flavonoid and phenolic compounds. These findings suggest that Robusta cascara's ethanol extract is a promising source of natural antioxidants and DNA protective agents, with potential applications in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products to prevent various chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress.
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