Mountain ash (sorbus aucuparia): from forest to functional food with bioactive health benefits
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31989/ffs.v6i1.1830Abstract
Sorbus aucuparia L. (Rowan or Mountain Ash) is a deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family with considerable dendrological importance and emerging pharmacological and nutritional value. This review provides an integrated overview of its botanical characteristics, phytochemical composition, and biological activities, highlighting its potential in functional foods and natural therapeutics. The species is rich in diverse bioactive constituents, including polyphenols (flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins), triterpenoids, carotenoids, vitamins, organic acids, and essential minerals. These compounds contribute to its pronounced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, and cytoprotective properties. Antioxidant activity is largely attributed to chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids, rutin, catechin, and vitamin C, which effectively scavenge free radicals and protect biomolecules from oxidative damage. The anti-inflammatory effects are mediated through inhibition of COX/LOX pathways and protein denaturation, while analgesic potential involves the modulation of oxidative stress and prostaglandin synthesis. Additionally, S. aucuparia extracts exhibit cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic activities, supporting their application in chronic disease prevention. Seasonal variation and extraction methods significantly influence bioactive compound yield, with early summer identified as optimal for leaf and fruit harvesting. From a dendrological perspective, S. aucuparia is an ecologically resilient species with high adaptive capacity, contributing to forest regeneration and soil stabilization.
Integrating dendrological, phytochemical, and functional perspectives, this review underscores S. aucuparia as a multifunctional species of ecological, pharmacological, and biotechnological significance, offering promising prospects for sustainable forestry, nutraceutical production, and functional food innovation.
Keywords: Sorbus aucuparia; rowan; dendrology; polyphenols; functional food; antioxidant; bioactive compounds.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Areg Karapetyan, Zhanna Fafuryan, Ivan Gabrielyan
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