Abstract
Background: Amelanchier alnifolia (Juneberry) is a phenolic-rich species with potential for pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions for producing ethanolic extracts from differently processed Juneberry berries collected in Lithuania and to develop solid oral dosage forms based on the obtained extracts.
Methods: Extracts were prepared using varying ethanol concentrations, temperatures, and extraction times from dried, frozen, and freeze-dried berries. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS assays. Phenolic profiles were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), identifying five major compounds. Extracts were converted into powders using lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, or magnesium aluminum metasilicate as carriers. Hard capsules were manufactured and evaluated according to European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) requirements, including mass uniformity, moisture content, and disintegration time.
Results: Freeze-dried berries yielded the highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity across all extraction conditions. The most efficient extraction parameters for freeze-dried berries were identified as 50% ethanol, 50–55 °C, and 30 min. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids, rutin, hyperoside, and isoquercitrin. Among the powdered systems, lactose monohydrate demonstrated favorable flowability and moisture characteristics.
Conclusions: Freeze-dried Juneberry berries are a suitable raw material for producing phenolic-rich extracts with strong antioxidant activity. Lactose-based powder blends showed the best technological performance and were successfully formulated into hard capsules. These findings support the potential of Juneberry extracts for incorporation into standardized pharmaceutical dosage forms and provide a basis for future formulation and bioavailability studies.
Introduction
Juneberry, also known as Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) is a shrub belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae). The medicinal plant material is the fruit—small, dark purple to black berries (Figure 1) that contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenoids, and anthocyanins [1,2]. Since it can grow in various soil types, does not require special cultivation conditions (e.g., high temperature or humidity), and is resistant to frost, it can be successfully grown in Lithuania. It is a relatively understudied plant species, which, due to the compounds it accumulates, has demonstrated antiviral activity against intestinal coronavirus and the ability to modulate lipid metabolism and energy expenditure [3,4]. It is believed that, through its capacity to neutralize free radicals, it can delay the onset of diseases associated with oxidative stress [5]. Studies show that it exhibits anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiatherosclerotic, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, antiallergic, antiradical, neuroprotective, and vasoprotective effects [2,6,7,8]. In addition, due to their radical-scavenging properties, phenolic compounds are valuable in the food industry, as they can extend the shelf life of products by mitigating lipid oxidation and preserving quality parameters such as color, taste, smell, and texture [5].
Although the phytochemical composition of Juneberry has been partially described in previous studies [1,2,5], there is still limited research exploring the technological translation of its bioactive-rich extracts into standardized pharmaceutical dosage forms. Furthermore, there is a distinct lack of experimental studies investigating A. alnifolia berries collected and processed under the climatic and soil conditions specific to Lithuania. Such regional variations may significantly influence the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of the plant material [9], underscoring the importance of conducting localized experimental assessments.
Juneberry has been traditionally used in North America by Indigenous peoples for both nutritional and medicinal purposes, primarily as an anti-inflammatory and energy-restoring food source [10]. Beyond its ethnobotanical value, A. alnifolia has attracted increasing scientific interest due to its high content of anthocyanins, flavonols, and phenolic acids, which are associated with strong antioxidant and health-promoting properties [2,8,11]. In Canada and the northern United States, Juneberries are cultivated commercially and utilized in a wide range of food and nutraceutical products, including juices, jams, yogurts, functional beverages, and dietary supplements [2,12]. In recent years, their extracts have also been incorporated into cosmetic formulations for skin protection against oxidative stress [13] and evaluated for potential use in encapsulated delivery systems in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries [14]. However, while such applications are growing internationally, there remains a scarcity of data on the phytochemical and technological properties of Lithuanian-grown Juneberries, making this research both regionally significant and scientifically relevant.
In order to preserve as much of the biologically active material as possible, it is essential to consider the factors that influence the yield of phenolic compounds. The most commonly used extraction methods include maceration, supercritical-fluid extraction, ultrasonic extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction. Once the appropriate extraction conditions are determined, the maximum yield of bioactive compounds can be achieved [15,16].
Therefore, the rationale of this study is based on the hypothesis that optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction parameters (solvent concentration, temperature, and extraction time) from differently processed Juneberry berries (frozen, dried, freeze-dried) can significantly influence phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity, and consequently the quality of pharmaceutical formulations derived from these extracts.
Once the extracts are obtained, they can be incorporated into powders using liquid–solid phase technology to preserve the physicochemical and biological properties of the bioactive compounds. Thanks to this technology, the resulting powder exhibits good flowability, non-stickiness, and enhanced solubility [17,18]. The prepared powder mixtures can then be used for the production of hard capsules—one of the oldest and most convenient oral dosage forms. Capsules effectively mask unpleasant tastes and odors, protect the active ingredient from environmental degradation (e.g., light, oxygen, microbial contamination), and allow accurate dosing of liquids or solids [19,20].
Given the broad pharmacological potential of Juneberry and its favorable growth characteristics in Lithuania, as well as the scarcity of experimental research on locally grown berry material, the development of standardized dosage forms containing its extracts is of both scientific and practical importance. Therefore, the aim of this work was to produce liquid ethanol extracts from Juneberry berries and to determine the effect of extraction time, temperature, and solvent concentration on the content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, as well as on antioxidant activity, and to evaluate the technological quality of hard capsules formulated from these extracts.
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Pudžiuvelytė, L.; Mačiulskaitė, A. From Berries to Capsules: Technological and Quality Aspects of Juneberry Formulations. Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18, 1841. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18121841
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