Antioxidant capacity of small dark fruits: Influence of cultivars and harvest time

Abstract

Abstract. BACKGROUND:Small dark fruits represent one of the most important sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity in the human diet. The content of health-promoting antioxidants in these fruits may be important information to take into account when a fruit producer has to choose which cultivar to grow. OBJECTIVE: It is important to know how antioxidant capacity and antioxidant compounds as total phenolics and ascorbic acid vary between 9 small dark fruit species and for each species among cultivars (2 to 10 per species). METHODS:The antioxidant capacity (ORAC assay), total phenolic (Folin-Ciocalteu) and ascorbic acid content were measured in 9 fruits (plums, blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, redcurrants, raspberries, white currants and gooseberries) / 42 cultivars harvested at maturity during their high production period. RESULTS:The comparison of the average of the various cultivars of each small fruits showed that blackcurrants had the best antioxidant capacity (with plums), the highest ascorbic acid content and the highest total phenolic content (with blackberries). The present study shows that total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant capacity strongly differed between genotypes of each small dark fruits. Other parameters as harvest time, culture conditions and maturity degree at the harvest may also influence the antioxidant capacity of small fruits. CONCLUSIONS: Among small dark fruits, blackcurrants have high qualities. Choices of variety, harvest time and maturity degree are important for all fruits.

Physicochemical properties and bioactive compounds content in encapsulated freeze-dried powders obtained from blueberry, elderberry, blackcurrant and maqui berry

“…TAC of these berries varied from 24.5 (BC) to 5.5 (BB) mmol Trolox/ml. Kevers et al [47] showed, that the difference of both TP contents and TAC between several cultivars of blackcurrant and blueberry could be up to 2.4 times. A general good correlation between TAC and TP was observed (R = 0.98, P < 0.05).…”

“…Regarding TAC, blackcurrant is the one with the highest value, probably due to its high content of ascorbic acid [49]. Different authors reported that ascorbic acid in blackcurrants berries stimulates the antioxidant activity of polyphenolic compounds and, taking into account that anthocyanins represent for about two-thirds of antioxidant potency for these fruits, it would indicate that other very potent antioxidants were present in phenolic fraction of this berry juice [47,50,51].…”

Geographic Variability of Sugars and Organic Acids in Selected Wild Fruit Species

“…This fruit, in comparison with cultivated ones, contains a higher concentration of bioactive components [6][7][8][9][10], which have a positive impact on health [11][12][13][14][15]. However, its chemical composition varies, and it is under the influence of a series of factors before and after harvesting [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Research of climate differences conditioned by geographical environment is very important from the perspective of comprehending the differences in fruit quality (content of sugars, organic acids, bioactive components etc.)…”

CARACTERÍSTICAS POMOLÓGICAS, CAPACIDAD ANTIOXIDANTE Y ÁCIDO ELÁGICO EN FRAMBUESA (Rubus idaeus L.)

“…Estos valores se relacionaron significativamente con la HR, lo que significa que a mayor HR la F es menor (Cuadro 4). La pérdida de F, en la frambuesa, se da por múltiples factores (Kevers et al, 2014;Sexton et al, 1997). La F comienza a disminuir conforme los frutos maduran (Sexton et al, 1997), aunque también la intensidad de la luz, número de horas al día y época productiva de la planta, pueden provocar diferencias en la F.…”