Unraveling the Bioactive Potential of Camellia japonica Edible Flowers: Profiling Antioxidant Substances and In Vitro Bioactivity Assessment

Abstract

In recent years, the search for novel natural-based ingredients by food and related industrieshas sparked extensive research aimed at discovering new sources of functional molecules. Camelliajaponica, traditionally known as an ornamental plant, has gained attention due to its diverse arrayof bioactive compounds with potential industrial applications. Although C. japonica flowers areedible, their phytochemical profile has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, a phenolicprofile screening through an HPLC–ESI-QQQ-MS/MS approach was applied to C. japonica flowerextracts, revealing a total of 36 compounds, including anthocyanins, curcuminoids, dihydrochalcones,dihydroflavonols, flavonols, flavones, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, isoflavonoids,stilbenes, and tyrosols. Following extract profiling, their bioactivity was assessed by means ofin vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and neuroprotective activities. The results showed amultifaceted high correlation of phenolic compounds with all the tested bioactivities according toPearson’s correlation analysis, unraveling the potential of C. japonica flowers as promising sourcesof nutraceuticals. Overall, these findings provide insight into the valorization of C. japonica flowersfrom different unexplored cultivars thus diversifying their industrial outcome.