Antioxidant Bioactivity of Cydonia Species

Cydonia species, notably Cydonia oblonga and related Chaenomeles taxa, are recognised for their rich complement of antioxidant phytochemicals. Fruits, leaves and other plant parts yield diverse polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins that neutralise reactive oxygen species, inhibit lipid peroxidation and modulate enzyme-driven oxidative pathways. In vitro assays—such as DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS cation quenching and ferric-reducing power—consistently demonstrate strong free-radical-neutralising potential. Emerging metabolomic analyses have mapped anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids across tissues, revealing organ-specific profiles that inform targeted extraction. Beyond direct radical scavenging, Cydonia extracts exert anti-inflammatory and enzyme-inhibitory actions, suggesting a multifunctional role in mitigating oxidative stress, supporting cardiometabolic health and enhancing food-preservative efficacy. Cultivar selection, harvest timing and extraction solvents further modulate antioxidant yields, underlining the practical importance of optimised processing for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A comparative investigation into pome species leaves versus fruits highlighted quince leaves as a particularly potent source of antioxidant constituents. High levels of polymeric procyanidins and flavan-3-ols in leaves yielded superior performance in ORAC, FRAP and ABTS assays compared with fruit, correlating with stronger inhibition of lipase, glycosidase and cholinesterase enzymes. The study underlined the versatility of quince foliage as a functional biomass for nutraceutical development, extending applications beyond conventional fruit-derived extracts.

Antioxidant Bioactivity of Cydonia Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in antioxidant bioactivity of cydonia species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polyphenols: Plant secondary metabolites with multiple phenolic groups that scavenge free radicals and chelate metal ions.

Flavan-3-ols: A subclass of flavonoids, including catechin and epicatechin, notable for strong antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitory properties.

Procyanidins: Oligomeric flavan-3-ols that contribute to potent radical-scavenging capacity and support vascular health.

ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity): An assay measuring the ability of a sample to neutralise peroxyl radicals under physiological conditions.

References

1. Quinces (Cydonia oblonga, Chaenomeles sp., and Pseudocydonia sinensis) as Medicinal Fruits of the Rosaceae Family: Current State of Knowledge on Properties and Use. Antioxidants (2024).
2. Comparison of bioactive compounds and health promoting properties of fruits and leaves of apple, pear and quince. Scientific Reports (2021).
3. Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Acetonic Extract from Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.): Nutraceuticals with Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential. Molecules (2022).
4. The UHPLC-QTOF-MS Phenolic Profiling and Activity of Cydonia oblonga Mill. Reveals a Promising Nutraceutical Potential. Foods (2021).