INFLUENCE OF THE GENOTYPE ON THE POLYPHENOLIC COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME BERRY FRUITS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the content of vitamin C, total phenols, total anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols and antioxidant activity in fruits of five berry fruit species: blackcurrant variety “Rosenthal”, white mulberry local ecotype, black chokeberry variety “Viking”, blackberry variety “Thornfree” and pomegranate autochthonous variety “Karamustafa”. Determination of vitamin C was performed by classical analytical method. Total phenols, total anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols and antioxidant activity were analysed by spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results from the analysis for berry fruits showed high antioxidant activity, over 70% and high content of polyphenols. According to the genotype, black chokeberry had the highest content of total phenols (23.9 mg g-1 FW (fresh weight), anthocyanins (6.1 mg g-1 FW) and flavan-3-ols (2.8 mg g-1 FW). Blackcurrant had highest content of vitamin C (216.0 mg 100 g-1 FW) and antioxidant activity (86.2% inhibition). A positive correlation was found among all the studied fruit species. A strong positive correlation of vitamin C with antioxidant activity was determined, as well as between total phenols and total anthocyanins, i.e. flavan-3-ols. A weak negative correlation was only observed for catechin in relation to vitamin C, inhibitory antioxidant activity and vitamin C antioxidant activity.