Phenolic Compounds, Vitamins C and E and Antioxidant Activity of Edible Honeysuckle Berries (Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Pojark) in Relation to Their Origin

Abstract

Honeysuckles are frost tolerant plants providing early-ripening fruits with health-promoting properties which have been used in traditional medicine in China. This study evaluates the impact of the climatic conditions of two areas on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity (AOA; by DPPH—2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and photochemiluminescence assays) of eight cultivars of honeysuckle berries (Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Pojark) of various ripening times. Expectedly, chemical composition and AOA values varied depending on the cultivars, locality and selected methods. Berries from Lednice (the area with more sunshine) showed higher average contents of total monomeric anthocyanins (TMAC; pH differential absorbance method), vitamins C and E and total phenolics (high-performance liquid chromatography). In contrast, berries from Žabčice (the area with more rain) performed higher average contents of total phenolics and flavonoids (UV/VIS spectroscopic analyses). Interestingly, fundamental amounts of chlorogenic acid were determined irrespective of the locality. Regarding TMAC and vitamin C content, early ripening Amphora from both areas has been assessed as the best cultivar; concerning the content of phenolic compounds, Fialka from both areas and Amphora from Lednice is considered as the most valuable. The obtained results may facilitate the selection of the most valuable cultivars for both producers and consumers.

The Novel Potentiometric Approach to Antioxidant Capacity Assay Based on the Reaction with Stable Radical 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

“…As noted previously, antioxidants react with DPPH • stable radicals via a combined hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and single electron transfer mechanism (SET). This fact also indicates the advantage of using the DPPH • molecule in the study of the antioxidant/antiradical properties of substances [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The use of the molecule as a model in the reaction with AO makes it possible to measure the integral capacity, which simultaneously includes two mechanisms of antioxidant action in the body.…”

“…It has a deep purple color, which is widely used in the spectrophotometry. The DPPH • , interacting with antioxidants, transforms into a reduced diamagnetic form with a pale-yellow color [ 2 , 3 ]. The rate of decrease of the optical density at the maximum absorption of the radical can be used to evaluate the antioxidant/antiradical properties of individual compounds, added to the solution, and their complex mixtures.…”

Pigment of Ceiba speciosa (A. St.-Hil.) Flowers: Separation, Extraction, Purification and Antioxidant Activity

“…Antioxidants are among the most effective natural defenses against disease, offering protection against stressors that might otherwise harm cellular structures. Numerous fruits, vegetables and other plant materials are natural sources of compounds with protective activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic compounds [ 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ]. Furthermore, the desire to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in the human diet is partially due to the favorable effects of beneficial antioxidants found in these foods on health promotion.…”

Health Benefits of Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds in the Fruits and Leaves of Lonicera caerulea L. and Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot

“…Vitamin C is another component with important health benefits, with concentrations of 85–300 mg/kg, and even up to 1860 mg/kg FW according to some authors, which are among the highest found in known fruits [ 28 , 81 ]. Additionally, vitamin E in haskap fruits may range between 0.90–3.70 mg/kg DW [ 82 ].…”

“…A. melanocarpa [ 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 ] and L. caerulea [ 24 , 82 , 121 , 166 ] are among the medicinal plants for which the literature reports multiple beneficial effects. Therefore, many bioactive compounds are extracted from these plants and are encapsulated into controlled release systems [ 167 , 168 , 169 , 170 , 171 , 172 , 173 ].…”