Chemical Characteristics of Ethanol and Water Extracts of Black Alder ( L.) Acorns and Their Antibacterial, Anti-Fungal and Antitumor Properties.

The aim of this study was to identify polyphenolic compounds contained in ethanol and water extracts of black alder ( L.) acorns and evaluate their anti-cancer and antimicrobial effects. The significant anti-cancer potential on the human skin epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 and the human epithelial cell line A549 derived from lung carcinoma tissue was observed. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of alder acorns inhibited the growth of mainly Gram-positive microorganisms (, , ) and yeast-like fungi (, ), as well as Gram-negative (, , , ) strains. The identification of polyphenols was carried out using an ACQUITY UPLC-PDA-MS system. The extracts were composed of 29 compounds belonging to phenolic acids, flavonols, ellagitannins and ellagic acid derivatives. Ellagitannins were identified as the predominant phenolics in ethanol and aqueous extract (2171.90 and 1593.13 mg/100 g DM, respectively) The results may explain the use of extracts in folk medicine.