Comparison of phenolic compound contents and antioxidant capacities of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruits

The characteristics, phenolic compound contants, and antioxidant capacities of 6 cultivars of loquat fruit grown in China were evaluated. HPLC was used to identify and quantify phenolics. Chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, ellagic acid, and o-coumaric acid were the main phenolic compounds of mature loquat fruits. Contents of chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and o-coumaric acid were all significantly correlated with antioxidant capacities determined using DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays. The ‘Taxiahong’ cultivar contained the highest amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids and the highest antioxidant capacity, while ‘Taipingbai’ showed the lowest. The high level of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities of some cultivars indicates that these cultivars can be sources of bioactive compounds that are relevant to human health.     

Bioactive Components and Antioxidant Capacity of Fruits from Nine Sorbus Genotypes

In this study, biochemical profile of fruits of 9 Sorbus genotypes was analyzed. The content of total sugars ranged from 69.7 g/kg (‘Titan’) to 217.5 g/kg (Sorbus torminalis) and total organic acids from 17.7 g/kg (‘Businka’) to 40.2 g/kg (S. torminalis). The highest content of total anthocyanins had ‘Burka’ (871 mg/kg FW) and ‘Businka’ (856 mg/kg FW). Quercetin derivatives represented more than 95% of total flavonols. ‘Alaja krupnaja’ had 3.5‐ to 29‐fold higher rutin content than other analyzed genotypes. S. torminalis fruits had the greatest diversity of isorhamnetin and kaempferol derivatives. Chlorogenic acid was the major hydroxycinnamic acid and its share was 33% to 73% of total analyzed hydoxycinnamic acid derivatives. The richest in chlorogenic acid were ‘Krasavica’ and ‘Alaja krupnaja’ fruits. Cultivar ‘Businka’ had the highest content of epicatechin (40.7 mg/kg) and neochlorogenic acid (1061 mg/kg). Different procyanidin oligomers were detected among flavanols in Sorbus fruits. The highest content of total flavanols was measured in ‘Alaja Krupnaja’ fruits. Cultivars ‘Krasavica’ (84.5 mg/kg) and ‘Burka’ (85.1 mg/kg) had 1.2‐ to 6.9‐fold higher amount of total carotenoids. ‘Businka’ was highlighted as the richest in total tannin and phenolic contents (3768 mg GAE/kg) and consequently, it had the highest antioxidant activity (57.6 mM TE/kg FW). Being abundant in polyphenolics, some extracts of Sorbus genotypes, for example, ‘Businka,’ ‘Burka,’ and ‘Alaja krupnaja’ could serve as valuable resource of bioactive compounds to food and pharmaceutical industries.     

基于主要功能成分含量的不同品种枇杷叶评价

为探明不同品种枇杷叶中主要功能成分含量差异,给枇杷叶的加工利用提供理论参考,以生长在陕南安康的14个品种枇杷叶为材料,通过测定总黄酮、总酚、三萜酸、多糖、维生素C等主要成分含量以及ABTS阳离子自由基清除率和FRAP值指标,并运用主成分分析法对枇杷叶品质进行综合评价。结果表明:‘佳伶’、‘培优’和‘麦后黄’叶片中总黄酮、总酚和三萜酸含量较高,抗氧化活性较强,具有更好的药用价值和功能性。‘西农枇杷2号’和‘津云’叶片中多糖和维生素C含量较高,具有较好的营养价值。主成分分析评价结果,综合排名前三的品种依次为‘佳伶’、‘麦后黄’、‘培优’。     

Effect of different light transmittance paper bags on fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in loquat

BACKGROUND: Bagging has been widely used to improve the commercial value of fruit. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different light transmittance paper bags on the quality and antioxidant capacity of loquat fruit. Two loquat cultivars, Baiyu and Ninghaibai (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), were used for materials. One‐layered white paper bags (OWPB) with ～50% light transmittance and two‐layered paper bags with a black inner layer and a grey outer layer (TGDPB) with ～0% light transmittance were used as treatments and unbagged fruits were used as the control (CK) in this experiment. Fruit quality was determined by physicochemical characteristics, the quantity of sugar, total phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoid and vitamin C. The antioxidant capacities of the methanol extracted from the pulp were tested using three different assays. RESULTS: The results showed that bagging decreased the weight of fruit but promoted the appearance of loquat fruits. The total sugar content in the fruit bagged with OWPB was higher than in controls and in fruit bagged with TGDPB. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were decreased by both bagging treatments, with the lowest occurring in the fruit bagged with TGDPB. Bagging also decreased the total antioxidant capacity of the fruit pulp, which was again lower in TGDPB‐treated fruits than in those bagged using OWPB. Correlation analysis showed a linear relationship between total antioxidant capacity and the content of total phenolic and flavonoid. CONCLUSION: The results showed that different light transmittance bags had different effects on fruit quality and antioxidant capacity. In particular, bags with low light transmittance (TGDPB) decreased the inner quality and total antioxidant capacity of loquat fruit. All results indicated that bagging with OWPB was more suitable for maintaining the quality of the loquat fruit than bagging with TGDPB. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cultivar choice provides options for local production of organic and conventionally produced tomatoes with higher quality and antioxidant content

BACKGROUND: Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are widely consumed and well known for their health benefits, many of which have been associated with the high levels of antioxidants present in tomatoes. With a growing interest in local and organic foods, it would be helpful to determine whether farmers could naturally improve the quality and antioxidant content of tomatoes for sale in local markets. This study evaluated antioxidant properties, quality attributes, and yield for 10 tomato cultivars grown for 2 years using certified organic and conventional practices. RESULTS: Cultivar and year effects impacted (P < 0.05) all tests conducted, while growing method influenced (P < 0.05) yield, soluble solids content, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant radical scavenging capacity. Even when accounting for year‐to‐year variability, cultivars in the highest groups had 1.35‐ to 1.67‐fold higher antioxidant levels than cultivars in the lowest groups. ‘New Girl’, ‘Jet Star’, ‘Fantastic’, and ‘First Lady’ were always in the highest groups, while ‘Roma’ and ‘Early Girl’ consistently had the lowest antioxidant content. CONCLUSION: Compared to production practices and environmental effects of years that are generally beyond the control of small‐scale producers, choice of cultivar provides the simplest and most effective means of increasing antioxidant properties. Knowledge of tomato cultivars with naturally higher antioxidant levels could assist smaller‐scale producers to grow fruit that may provide a competitive advantage and the opportunity to capitalize on the increasing popularity of locally grown, high‐quality fresh produce. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genotype and growing season influence blueberry antioxidant capacity and other quality attributes

Forty‐two blueberry cultivars (thirty‐six Vaccinium ashei, three V. ashei derivative hybrids and three northern highbush standards) were evaluated for their antioxidant capacities and other fruit quality attributes over two growing seasons. Total anthocyanins, phenolic content and antioxidant capacities varied substantially among species and cultivars. ‘Early May’ (V. ashei) had the highest amounts of anthocyanins, phenolics and antioxidant capacity. Cultivars from V. ashei hybrid derivatives had lower mean antioxidant components than those from northern highbush standards or V. ashei. The antioxidant capacity, as well as total anthocyanins and phenolics, had significant cultivar × year interactions. Correlation coefficient between years for total anthocyanins, total phenolics and oxygen radical absorbance capacity were high with values of 0.86, 0.81 and 0.93, respectively. Similar interactions were observed for soluble solids content (SSC), sugar, titratable acid and organic acids among cultivars both within and across the growing seasons. Correlation coefficients between years for SSC, fructose, glucose and sucrose were 0.78, 0.71, 0.83 and 0.96, respectively. Fructose and glucose were detected as two major sugars with sucrose as a minor constituent. ‘Clara’ contained the highest amounts of SSC and sugars, while ‘Satilla’ had the lowest. In general, V. ashei cultivars had a higher mean SSC and sugar contents than did the hybrid derivatives or the northern highbush standards. Cultivars of V. ashei contained higher malic acid than citric acid, whereas in hybrid derivatives and northern highbush cultivars, citric acid was the predominant organic acid. The diversity in the amount of these fruit quality attributes and antioxidant capacities presents a great opportunity for genetic improvement of blueberries through breeding programmes. The objective of the study was to identify blueberry cultivars with high antioxidant activity and good fruit quality, so they can be used as parents for future blueberry breeding programmes to develop new cultivars with higher antioxidant activity.     

梅花果实品质及抑菌、抗氧化活性分析

为揭示不同品种梅花果实的品质及抑菌、抗氧化活性差异,从抗寒梅花中筛选果实品质优良的品种,为抗寒花果兼用梅的选育以及梅花果实综合利用提供依据。对8 个品种梅花果实的品质（外观品质和食用品质）性状、抑菌和抗氧化活性进行评价,利用高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术对酚类化合物进行分离和检测,对果实品质性状与抑菌和抗氧化活性进行相关性分析。结果表明：不同品种梅花果实的品质性状差异显著,‘淡丰后’、‘粉靥丰后’、‘武藏野’和‘飞绿萼’等级评价较高;‘丰后’、‘武藏野’、‘飞绿萼’总酚和总黄酮含量较高,从3 个品种中都分离出儿茶素、迷迭香酸、圣草酚、丁香酸、芦丁5 种酚类化合物,梅花果实的抑菌和抗氧化活性与总酚和总黄酮含量存在相关关系。‘武藏野’和‘飞绿萼’是优良的抗寒花果兼用梅,果实品质性状较优,可以作为天然抗氧化剂或功能性食品进行开发利用。     

陕西安康地区10 个日本引种枇杷果实品质比较

通过果实品质比较分析建立陕西安康地区引种枇杷品质评价方法,为划分品种类型并筛选适宜当地枇杷产业发展的优良品种提供参考依据。对10 个日本引种枇杷果实的物性指标、营养指标及功能性指标进行测定,采用主成分分析和聚类分析方法对枇杷品质进行评价。结果表明：不同评价指标在10 个日本引种枇杷果实的检测结果中存在较大差异,但综合品质均优于当地品种‘麦后黄’。主成分分析提取出风味、抗氧化、加工和总酚4 项主成分因子,累计方差贡献率达到85.666%。根据主成分综合评价函数,综合排名前3 名的品种分别是‘ADVANCE’、‘津云’和‘CHAMPAGNE’。聚类分析将10 个日本引种枇杷聚为5 类,经初步分析,第1类具有一定的保健价值;第2类可考虑作为加工果汁、果醋类饮料的原料;第3类是适宜鲜食的品种。主成分分析和聚类分析方法相结合可综合评价枇杷果实品质,为其品种开发类型的选择及有效利用提供参考。     

Main quality attributes and antioxidants in Hungarian sour cherries: identification of genotypes with enhanced functional properties

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) cultivars native to Hungary and some of them grown worldwide, display great phenotypic variability. Eleven sour cherry cultivars were analysed for their main quality attributes including fruit weight, soluble solid content, acidity, pH, specific sugars (glucose and fructose), antioxidant capacity as well as total polyphenolic (TPC), total anthocyanin (TMAC) and vitamin C contents. Results showed wide variation in both fruit quality and antioxidant parameters of Hungarian sour cherries. The anthocyanin contents varied from 11.3 to 93.5 mg/100 g. An amarelle‐type cultivar, ‘Pipacs 1’ showed the highest antioxidant capacity (21.85 mmol AA L^?1), TPC (49.04 mg GA L^?1) and vitamin C (8.98 mg/100 g) content. Key enzymes in anthocyanin biosynthesis were expressed in both yellow‐coloured flesh and red skin of ‘Pipacs 1’ fruits at all ripening stages. The detected diversity presents a choice that can satisfy different consumer preferences, and meet specific nutritional requirements.     

3 种梨果实发育过程中酚类物质及其抗氧化能力分析

为进一步了解新疆主要栽培品种梨生长发育期果实酚类物质和抗氧化能力的变化规律,选取‘库尔勒香梨’‘早酥梨’及其杂交后代‘新梨7号’果实为试材,对其总酚、总黄酮、酚类物质含量以及1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,DPPH）自由基清除能力和2,2’-联氮-双-3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸（2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid),ABTS）阳离子自由基清除能力进行分析。结果表明：3 种梨果实总酚含量、总黄酮含量、DPPH自由基清除能力在整个生长发育过程中总体呈逐渐降低的变化趋势,ABTS阳离子自由基清除能力呈先降低后升高再降低的变化趋势,花后50 d‘早酥梨’果实中总酚和总黄酮含量、DPPH自由基清除能力最高,分别达23.10、32.25 mg/g和29.12 μmol/g;花后80 d,‘早酥梨’果实ABTS阳离子自由基清除能力最高,达80.74 μmol/g。不同生长发育期同品种梨果实的酚类物质含量均存在明显差异,果实中的熊果苷、儿茶素、绿原酸、表儿茶素、槲皮葡萄糖苷、山柰酚-3-O-葡萄糖苷含量总体逐渐降低,其中熊果苷含量最高,平均值为5 797.82 μg/g,其次是绿原酸含量,平均值为1 781.02 μg/g。梨果实中总黄酮、总酚、熊果苷、儿茶素、绿原酸、表儿茶素含量与DPPH自由基清除能力呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）。3 种梨幼果期（花后50 d）酚类物质及抗氧化能力较高,‘早酥梨’总酚含量、总黄酮含量、DPPH自由基清除能力和ABTS阳离子自由基清除能力均比‘库尔勒香梨’和‘新梨7号’高。     

Comparative polyphenolic antioxidant profile and quality of traditional apple cultivars as affected by cold storage

‘Kathista’ and ‘Lortiko’ are regarded as traditional and highly appreciated apple cultivars in Cyprus, yet their postharvest behaviour and phytochemical content are largely unknown. Such fruits were examined for their qualitative traits, phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity after harvest or short, intermediate or extended cold storage and additional ripening at room temperature (RT), using ‘Gala’ as reference cultivar. Total phenolic content was dependent on cultivar and length of cold storage, while hydroxycinnamic acids were always at higher levels compared to total flavonols for all the examined cultivars. No clear trends regarding the influence of cold storage or RT maintenance on fruit antioxidant properties were evident. Overall, quality attributes and polyphenolic content of the traditional apple cultivars were comparable with ‘Gala’ at harvest; thus, they can be considered a good source of nutraceuticals as summer apple cultivars. However, extended cold storage deteriorates fruit behaviour and antioxidant capacity, particularly in ‘Lortiko’ fruit.     

Total phenols and antioxidant capacity in 10 Moroccan pomegranate varieties

The study focused on characterizing the 10 major Moroccan cultivars to acknowledge the quality and bioactive compounds of the fruits. The following determinations were assessed: pomegranate fruit maturity index, which truly defines juice taste, as well as organic acids and sugar contents, total phenols, and antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice. The cultivar per se (genotype) behaved as the most influencing factor conditioning pomegranate sugar and organic acids profiles, antioxidant activity, and total phenolics. The assessment of pomegranate chemical compositions implies the great potential of Moroccan cultivars for both fresh market and fruit processing. In fact, the "Hamde" sour cv. seems particularly suitable for juice production because of its high phenolics content. Additionally, the presence of bioactive compounds in pomegranate juices may encourage their consumption for potential health benefits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The cultivar per se (genotype) behaved as the most influencing factor conditioning pomegranate sugar and organic acids profiles, antioxidant activity, and total phenolics. Given the divergence observed on bioactive compounds concentrations and antioxidant activity among evaluated cultivars, the genotype factor should be considered as the most influencing factor in future breeding programs to enhance the synthesis of beneficial bioactive compounds.     

Amount of characteristic compounds in 15 cultivars of onion (Allium cepa L.) in controlled field trials

BACKGROUND: In order to develop the production of sweet onions (Allium cepa L.) and onions with a high content of flavonols and fibre in Norway, it was necessary to evaluate available cultivars with respect to their content of selected chemical compounds. A field trial with 15 different cultivars was conducted at Landvik in southern Norway. Compounds that reflect onion pungency and sweetness (pyruvate, sugars) and parameters known to have a beneficial impact on health (fructo‐oligosaccharides (FOS), flavonols, antioxidant capacity) were analysed. RESULTS: The sweetest onions with respect to low content of pyruvate and high amount of fructose and glucose ranged in pyruvate content from 2.7 to 3.6 µmol mL^?1. These cultivars were juicy and contained low amounts of FOS and total flavonols. The most pungent onions contained the highest amounts of FOS among the cultivars: 4.53, 3.80 and 5.81 g per 100 g fresh weight (FW) respectively. They also had a high content of flavonols (86.6, 159.2 and 97.6 mg per 100 g FW) and high dry weight content (14.6, 13.5 and 15.6 g per 100 g). CONCLUSION: The sweetest onion cultivars were found to be ‘NUN 9746’, ‘Musica’, ‘Domenica Supersweet’, ‘Colossus’ and ‘Cronus’. The most pungent cultivars were ‘Powell Brown’ and ‘Tilbury’, which also contained the highest amounts of flavonols and gave the highest Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values among the 15 cultivars. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of saline stress on mineral composition,phenolic acids and flavonoids in leaves of artichoke and cardoon genotypes grown in floating system

BACKGROUND: Cynara cardunculus is a species native to the Mediterranean basin. It includes globe artichoke and cultivated cardoon as well as their progenitor wild cardoon. The species is a source of biophenols, and its leaf extracts have been widely used in herbal medicine as hepatoprotectors and choleretics since ancient times. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of increasing the level of salinity in the nutrient solution (1 or 30 mmol L^?1 NaCl) on biomass production, mineral composition, radical‐scavenging activity, caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids in three artichoke (‘Romolo’, ‘Violetto di Provenza’ and ‘Violetto di Romagna’) and three cultivated cardoon (‘Bianco Avorio’, ‘Bianco Gigante Inerme’ and ‘Gigante di Romagna’) cultivars grown in a floating system. RESULTS: Increased salinity in the nutrient solution decreased the leaf dry biomass and leaf number of artichoke and cultivated cardoon cultivars. Salinity reduced macro‐ and microelement accumulation in leaves (e.g. N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and B) but improved their antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, cynarin and luteolin. The cultivated cardoons, especially ‘Bianco Avorio’ and ‘Gigante di Romagna’, showed higher biomass and leaf number than those observed in artichoke genotypes. ‘Violetto di Provenza’ exhibited the highest content of chlorogenic acid, closely followed by ‘Violetto di Romagna’, whereas for cynarin content the highest values were recorded in ‘Violetto di Provenza’, ‘Bianco Avorio’ and ‘Gigante di Romagna’. The highest content of luteolin was recorded in ‘Gigante di Romagna’ and ‘Bianco Avorio’, while the highest content of apigenin was observed in ‘Gigante di Romagna’. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the floating system could be considered an effective tool to improve quality aspects through proper management of the salt concentration in the nutrient solution. They also suggest that specific cultivars should be selected to obtain the desired profile of bioactive compounds. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

不同果肉类型枇杷果肉挥发性成分分析

采用顶空固相微萃取和气相色谱-质谱联用技术,分别测定7?个白肉品种、15?个红肉品种枇杷成熟果肉的挥发性成分,结合聚类分析法和主成分分析法对枇杷果肉挥发性成分进行分析。结果表明：22?个品种枇杷成熟果肉检测到醛、萜烯、醇、酮、酯及其他6?类挥发性化合物,醛类物质是枇杷果肉的主要挥发性化合物,酯类、酮类和醇类是构成不同品种枇杷特有风味的重要组成,正己醛是相对含量最高的挥发性物质。7?个白肉品种枇杷检测出65?种挥发性成分,共有挥发性物质14?种,莰烯、氧化石竹烯、2-甲基丁酸仅在白肉品种枇杷中检测到;15?个红肉品种枇杷检测出81?种挥发性成分,共有挥发性物质10?种,甜瓜醛、反-2,4-癸二烯醛、反-β-罗勒烯、3-蒈烯、丁二醇、叶醇、十二醇、植酮、乙酸己酯、水杨酸甲酯、丁酸芳樟酯、香叶酸甲酯、乙酸橙花酯、肉桂酸乙酯、百里香酚、丁香油酚是红肉品种枇杷特有的挥发性物质。不同果肉类型枇杷的挥发性成分的主要差异体现在醇类和酯类物质,脱辅基类胡萝卜素类香气物质香叶基丙酮、β-紫罗酮在红肉枇杷中的相对含量明显高于白肉枇杷。聚类分析和主成分分析能把除‘冠玉’和‘乌躬白’外的其他白肉品种枇杷聚集,壬醛是对果肉风味贡献率最高的挥发性物质。     

Fruit snacks from raspberries: influence of drying parameters on colour degradation and bioactive potential

Raspberries were dehydrated using air and freeze‐drying with wet and dry sugar infusion pretreatments. Product quality factors such as colour, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity and sensorial characteristics were analysed. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of anthocyanin degradation and its relationship with colour deterioration and with polymeric compounds development and browning. Freeze‐dried raspberries presented a higher retention of bioactive compounds and a lower content of polymeric compounds than air‐dried ones. Dried samples without pretreatment (control) showed the highest retention of total phenolic content (freeze‐dried ≈82% and air‐dried ≈37% retention), but the lowest sensory acceptability. Although sugar infusion pretreatments caused an important loss of bioactive compounds (9–18% of TPC retention), a higher sensorial acceptability was obtained. Pretreatments with bisulphite and acid allowed obtaining the best quality attributes in terms of anthocyanin and polyphenol content, antiradical activity and colour retention. Polyphenol intake through pretreated dried raspberries (115–299 mg gallic ac./100 g intake) would be higher in some cases than that of usually consumed foods as vegetables, cereals and several fresh fruits.     

不同解冻方式对软儿梨果实品质与抗氧化物质含量的影响

冷冻和解冻是产区消费者传统上消费软儿梨的两个必要步骤,外源乙烯可以加速呼吸跃变型果实的后熟进 程。本实验以自然后熟和乙烯利催熟的软儿梨为材料,研究了传统的空气解冻和水浴解冻对解冻后果实品质和酚类 物质含量的影响。结果表明：对于自然后熟的软儿梨,空气解冻组果实的可滴定酸含量、可溶性固形物含量、固酸 比均显著高于水浴解冻组;同时使自然后熟组果实保留了更多的VC,降低了石细胞含量。空气解冻较水浴解冻降 低了乙烯利处理组果实的可滴定酸和可溶性固形物含量,但对其固酸比、VC和石细胞含量无显著影响。空气解冻 和水浴解冻均对自然后熟组果实的总酚含量无显著影响,但乙烯利处理组果实的总酚含量上升;两种解冻方式对几 种主要酚类物质的影响表现各异,但相似的是解冻后果实均不能测出绿原酸和阿魏酸。不同解冻方式对果实不同的 抗氧化指标影响各异,但从抗氧化能力综合指数来评价,不同工艺点的果实抗氧化能力依次为：水浴解冻＞空气解 冻＞后熟,在后熟和解冻中均为：乙烯利处理组果实＞自然后熟组果实。     

Agronomic Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Newly Developed Day-Neutral Strawberry Lines by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The agronomic characteristics and chemical composition of seven advanced day-neutral strawberry lines and a commercial cultivar ‘Seascape’ were evaluated for their horticulture and quality attributes. The results showed that the advanced strawberry lines had the best horticultural characteristics, such as more resistance to diseases, less weight and juice losses and better fruit glossiness during storage, compared to ‘Seascape’. Among the advanced lines, FIN005–55 had the better fruit quality with higher soluble solids content (SSC)/titratable acidity (TA) ratio and highest SSC, FIN005–7 had the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC), and both had potential for commercial trials.     

Phytochemical characterisation for industrial use of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars grown in Spain

BACKGROUND: The study of 15 pomegranate cultivars was carried out in order to demonstrate the wide diversity among the quality of Spanish pomegranates, and compared to ‘Wonderful’ cultivars, which are used worldwide for industrial purposes. Juice yield, quality parameters, organic acids and sugars, colour, vitamin C, ellagic acid, punicalagins, anthocyanins, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and sensory properties were measured. RESULTS: A considerable variation was found between ‘Wonderful’ and pomegranates of Spanish origin, according to both cluster analysis and principal component analysis. ‘Wonderful’ juices displayed large antioxidant activity and a polyphenol content with very high acidity. In contrast, ‘Mollar de Elche’ showed fewer anthocyanins although it had very superior organoleptical properties. In addition to a high content in ellagitannins, ‘Valenciana’ juices had exclusive colour parameters. CONCLUSION: These useful results can be employed by the juice processing industry to select those properties more interesting for the development of pomegranate juices that are organoleptically attractive and rich in bioactive compounds. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative study of primary and secondary metabolites in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivars

BACKGROUND: Apricot is one of the most popular Prunus species grown in the temperate zone and great variation in the contents of primary and secondary metabolites has been reported in its fruit. However, little is known on the phenolic profiles and antioxidant potential of important local cultivars. The objective of the study was to identify valuable parental lines for breeding of cultivars with high health‐promoting effects. RESULTS: Primary metabolites (sugars, organic acids) and secondary metabolites (phenolics) were quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) in fruit of 13 apricot cultivars: total sugars ranged from 59.2 to 212.5 g kg^?1 fresh weight (FW) and total organic acids from 4.2 to 20.8 g kg^?1 FW. Four hydroxycinnamic acids and three flavonols were quantified; their content was significantly higher in skin compared to pulp. Similarly, antioxidative potential was significantly higher in skin and ranged from 125.4 to 726.5 mg ascorbic acid equivalents kg^?1 FW. A positive correlation between total phenolic content and antioxidant potential was determined. Multivariate analysis subdivided the cultivars into five major groups, mostly influenced by the content of individual and total phenolics as well as the antioxidant potential of apricot skin and pulp. CONCLUSION: In regard to high phenolic content in connection with antioxidant potential, three cultivars stand out as the richest in analyzed quality parameters: ‘Mula Sadik’, ‘Bergeron’ and ‘Chuan Zhi Hong’. They also contained high amounts of primary metabolites and should be promoted for further planting and included in apricot breeding programs. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry