Impact of processing and storage on the phenolic profiles and contents of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juices

Juices were obtained on pilot-plant scale from untreated, steamed and peeled pomegranate fruits (Punica granatum L.), respectively, by applying increasing pressures and various juice treatments, i.e., enzymatic treatment, filtration, clarification and pasteurization, to determine the influence of process technology on the phenolic profiles and contents of the juices. Polyphenols were characterized and quantified by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSⁿ, and total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of the juices were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu, FRAP and TEAC assays, respectively. The total amounts of anthocyanins and colorless phenolics in the juices significantly differed depending on the applied technology. Highest phenolic recoveries were obtained from steamed fruits without further treatment. In contrast, lowest phenolic contents were determined in the juices produced from peeled fruits, i.e., the isolated seeds with adherent arils. With increasing pressures, polyphenol recoveries were enhanced, whereas juice treatments such as microfiltration and fining lowered phenolic contents of the juices. Furthermore, the amounts of individual phenolics were determined by HPLC-DAD with ellagitannins dominating the phenolic profiles. Juices solely produced from the edible parts of pomegranate exhibited lower amounts of ellagitannins compared with the juices from entire fruits. In contrast, the former juices were characterized by the highest amounts of gallotannins, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and dihydroflavonols. These results were consistent with the astringency of the juices. Additionally, storage experiments were performed at 4 °C and 20 °C in the dark and 20 °C under light exposure, revealing significant pigment degradation and concomitant color loss, especially at elevated temperatures and upon illumination, whereas the contents of non-anthocyanin phenolics and antioxidant capacity remained virtually unchanged throughout storage.     

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.     

Evaluation of Microbial Stability,Bioactive Compounds,Physicochemical Properties,and Consumer Acceptance of Pomegranate Juice Processed in a Commercial Scale Pulsed Electric Field System

This paper investigated the feasibility for pasteurizing raw (100 %) pomegranate juice in a commercial scale pulsed electric field (PEF) processing system. The juice was processed at 35 and 38 kV/cm for 281 μs at 55 °C with a flow rate of 100 L/h. Effect of PEF processing on microbial stability, color, °Brix, pH, sediment, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, anthocyanin, and sensory properties after the treatments and during storage at 4 °C for 12 weeks were studied and compared to those of thermally processed juice. PEF treatments significantly (p?<?0.05) inhibited the growth of total aerobic bacteria, which remained at <2.5 log colony-forming units (CFU)/ml during the 12-week storage. No yeast and mold were detected (<0.69 log CFU/ml) in the PEF-treated juices during storage up to weeks 10 and 12, which is similar to the thermally processed juice. There were no significant differences in pH and °Brix values between the PEF processed juice and unprocessed juice. PEF processing did not alter the contents of total phenolics and anthocyanin as compared to unprocessed juice. PEF processing had significantly (p?<?0.05) less impact on the color of pomegranate juice than thermal processing. PEF-treated juice had the same consumer satisfaction scores as the unprocessed juice, which were significantly (p?<?0.05) higher than thermally processed juice samples. There was no significant difference between the two PEF treatments in all results. This study demonstrated that PEF technology extended microbial shelf-life and preserved the major quality and nutritional characteristics of pomegranate juice, and hence, is technically feasible for commercialization in the juice industry.     

Combinatory Effect of Thermal Treatment and Blending on the Quality of Pomegranate Juices

In the food industry, browning and colour alteration are usually the main problems to solve in red juices. In an attempt to ease complications due to pomegranate juice processing, the combination of thermal treatment, storage at selected temperature and blending of juices was assessed as a novel and combined solution. A pure monovarietal juice, a combination of two widely distinct varietal juices (75 % Mollar de Elche + 25 % Wonderful) and a blend of pomegranate juice plus lemon (75 % + 25 %, respectively) were compared after pasteurization at two different heat treatments (high temperature–short time (HTST) and low temperature–long time (LTLT)). The effect of processing on the bioactive composition and colour parameters was monitored during juice shelf-life at two storage conditions (room and refrigeration temperatures). The reaction kinetics of main phytochemicals and a factorial analysis were also performed in order to achieve comprehensive data on the evolution of juice quality during storage. Results displayed how blending can protect the desirable properties of pomegranate juices better than pure monovarietal juices. Likewise, a high specificity between thermal treatment and kind of juice was found for each considered parameter. HTST exhibited a higher protective role than LTLT for blends of varietal pomegranate juices, whilst LTLT seemed to protect mixtures with lemon much better than HTST. Moreover, the concomitant degradation of anthocyanins and vitamin C and their role in colour variations were exposed. Overall, the array of outcomes might provide a satisfactory solution of colour alteration in pomegranate juices as well as red fruits in general.     

Antioxidant capacities of phenolic compounds and tocopherols from Tunisian pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruits

This article aims to determine the phenolic, tocopherol contents, and antioxidant capacities from fruits (juices, peels, and seed oils) of 6 Tunisian pomegranate ecotypes. Total anthocyanins were determined by a differential pH method. Hydrolyzable tannins were determined with potassium iodate. The tocopherol (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol) contents were, respectively, 165.77, 107.38, and 27.29 mg/100 g from dry seed. Four phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in pomegranate peel and pulp using the high-performance liquid chromatography/ultraviolet method: 2 hydroxybenzoic acids (gallic and ellagic acids) and 2 hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic and p-coumaric acids). Juice, peel, and seed oil antioxidants were confirmed by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods. The highest values were recorded in peels with 25.63 mmol trolox equivalent/100 g and 22.08 mmol TE/100 g for FRAP and ORAC assay, respectively. Results showed that the antioxidant potency of pomegranate extracts was correlated with their phenolic compound content. In particular, the highest correlation was reported in peels. High correlations were also found between peel hydroxybenzoic acids and FRAP ORAC antioxidant capacities. Identified tocopherols seem to contribute in major part to the antioxidant activity of seed oil. The results implied that bioactive compounds from the peel might be potential resources for the development of antioxidant function dietary food.     

Comparison of the polyphenolic composition and antioxidant activity of European commercial fruit juices

Thirty six commercial European fruit juices were tested to ascertain their antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic composition. Six of the products were labelled 100% pomegranate juice, the others included 20 brands of diluted pomegranate juice or pomegranate blended with other fruit juices and 10 different non-pomegranate fruit juices. The antioxidant capacity of all the juices was determined while anthocyanin, ellagitannin and ellagic acid profiles of the 26 pomegranate juices and pomegranate juice blends were obtained using HPLC-PDA-MS(2). Additional analysis was conducted on seven of the juices using HPLC with an on-line antioxidant detection system. Three of the "pure" pomegranate juices had the highest ellagitannin content and the highest antioxidant capacity. Only one of these three juices was rich in anthocyanins. The other "pure juices" had differences in their HPLC "pomegranate" fingerprint and also had a lower antioxidant capacity, in some cases lower than that of some of the blended juices. Vitamin C rather than phenolic compounds was the major contributor to the antioxidant capacity for some of the juices. Statistical analysis of both the antioxidant assay and the HPLC on-line antioxidant data demonstrated that the ellagitannins were the major antioxidants in the pomegranate juices. The complexity of the polyphenolic profile of pomegranates necessitates the use of HPLC-PDA-MS(2) for a thorough evaluation of juice composition and authenticity.     

Sensory and physicochemical characterization of juices made with pomegranate and blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries

The quality parameters of 1 commercial pomegranate juice mixed with 5 different concentrations of blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry juices were studied. The pH, total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content were determined. To understand the aroma differences of the juices, solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the volatile compounds present in the mixtures. A consumer study also was carried out to relate consumer ratings to the instrumental data and to determine acceptance and possible modifications of the designed juices. Four juices received the highest scores in overall consumer liking: pomegranate/blueberry juice with 20% and 50% of blueberry, pomegranate/blackberry with 10% of blackberry, and pomegranate/raspberry with 10% of raspberry. The main characteristics in these juices were: a high maturity index (from 13.9 to 16.5), low acidity (0.79 to 1.09 g citric acid 100 per milliliter juice), and the presence of aromatic compounds typical in blueberries such as 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, α-terpineol, and E-nerol. The total phenolic content was significantly higher in the pomegranate/blackberry 90%/10% sample, raising around 3500 mg gallic acid equivalents per liter, and could be a positive determinant for consumers interested in purchasing healthful products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The data presented in this article will help the juice industry, in the United States and elsewhere, to understand the consumer's preferences for pomegranate blended juices. Pomegranate juices have high antioxidant content, which makes these juices more desirable for the health-conscious consumer of today.     

Phenolic content and profiles of selected wild fruits of Zimbabwe: Ximenia caffra, Artobotrys brachypetalus and Syzygium cordatum

The phenolic compound content and profiles of three wild fruits found in Zimbabwe were tentatively identified using the traditional colorimetric methods and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The fruits assayed were: Ximenia caffra , Artobotrys brachypetalus and Syzygium cordatum . Ximenia caffra fruit peels contained the highest amounts of total phenolics amounting to 1205 μg g⁻¹ in fresh weight, flavonols amounting to 27 μg g⁻¹ and phenolic acids on HPLC tentative identification showed higher concentrations compared with the profiles of the other fruits. Syzygium cordatum fruit peels contained the least amounts of phenolics amounting to 20 μg g⁻¹, flavonols amounting to 8 μg g⁻¹ and phenolic acids' HPLC profiles showed low concentrations. Comparing the peels and pulps of all the fruits, we detected more total phenolics in the peels of X. caffra as high as 1205 μg g⁻¹ and the pulps had 228 μg g⁻¹, more flavonols and phenolic acids while the peels of S. cordatum fruits contained the least with a total phenolic acid content of 20 μg g⁻¹, and had more flavonols in the pulps than the peels, 11 μg g⁻¹ and 8 μg g⁻¹, respectively. Ximenia caffra contained 1.2% and about 1% dry weight condensed tannins in peels and pulps, respectively. In S. cordatum we detected 0.2% and 0.3% dry weight condensed tannins in the peels and pulps, respectively.     

Antioxidant activity and total phenolic,organic acid and sugar content in commercial pomegranate juices

Pomegranate fruit and pomegranate juices (PJs) have taken great attention for their health benefits in the last years. The purpose of this study is to analyse the antioxidant activities, along with the organic acid and sugar contents of pomegranate juices sold in the Turkish markets. In the present study, we evaluated total phenolics (TPs), free radical scavenging capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing capacity of seven commercial PJs. Organic acid and sugar contents of juices were determined by capillary zone electrophoresis. The results showed that commercial pomegranate juices had markedly high total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity. Fructose (F) and glucose (G) were found as the major sugars. The major acids were citric and malic. From the F/G ratio, organic acid profiles, TPs, and antioxidant capacity values, a possible adulteration was detected in one of the juices.     

Comparative study of phenolic content and antioxidant activity of strawberry puree,clear, and cloudy juices

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity in different kinds of juice: clear, cloudy, and puree which were made from three different strawberry cultivars (Elkat, Kent, and Senga Sengana). The anthocyanins, p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, keampferol derivatives, (+)-catechin, proanthocyanidins content and degree of proanthocyanidin polymerization, were determined both in the fresh and after 6 months of storage at 4 and 30 °C. Freshly produced juices contained higher amounts of phenolics, especially of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, than those stored for 6 months at 4 and 30 °C. The processing of the clear juice showed the higher loss of all phenolic compounds. The antioxidant capacity was the smallest for clear, and the highest for the puree juices. This was assessed by measurements made with different antioxidant activity assays: ABTS and FRAP. The puree of strawberry juice had significantly higher levels of the phenolic compounds and showed more antioxidant activity than the clear and cloudy juices, before and after storage in all strawberry cultivars.     

A new drink rich in healthy bioactives combining lemon and pomegranate juices

Nowadays, the interest in dietary antioxidants, mainly present in fruits and vegetables, has prompted research in the field of commercial polyphenol-rich beverages. The main objective of the present work was to produce new polyphenol-rich beverages using lemon and pomegranate juices in different proportions (at 25%, 50% and 75% for both juices). The bioactive composition (flavonoids and vitamin C) of the mixtures as well as its stability, antioxidant capacity and changes in colour over a 70 days storage period were studied. Our results suggest that the new drink made of 75% of pomegranate juice (PJ) and 25% of lemon juice (v:v), has potential for development of new healthy beverages or food products, emphasised by its high antioxidant capacity determined by its phenolic composition – punicalagin isomers, anthocyanins and vitamin C – and improved colour properties.     

Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel,mesocarp, aril and differently produced juices by HPLC-DAD–ESI/MS

Phenolic compounds were extracted from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel, mesocarp and arils. Extracts and juices were characterised by HPLC-DAD–ESI/MSⁿ. In total, 48 compounds were detected, among which 9 anthocyanins, 2 gallotannins, 22 ellagitannins, 2 gallagyl esters, 4 hydroxybenzoic acids, 7 hydroxycinnamic acids and 1 dihydroflavonol were identified based on their UV spectra and fragmentation patterns in collision-induced dissociation experiments. To the best of our knowledge, cyanidin–pentoside–hexoside, valoneic acid bilactone, brevifolin carboxylic acid, vanillic acid 4-glucoside and dihydrokaempferol-hexoside are reported for the first time in pomegranate fruits. Furthermore, punicalagin and pedunculagin I were isolated by preparative HPLC and used for quantification purposes. The ellagitannins were found to be the predominant phenolics in all samples investigated, among them punicalagin ranging from 11 to 20 g per kilogram dry matter of mesocarp and peel as well as 4–565 mg/L in the juices. The isolated compounds, extracts and juices were also assessed by the TEAC, FRAP and Folin–Ciocalteu assays revealing high correlation (R² = 0.9995) of the TEAC and FRAP values, but also with total phenolic contents as determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and by HPLC. Selection of raw materials, i.e. co-extraction of arils and peel, and pressure, respectively, markedly affected the profiles and contents of phenolics in the pomegranate juices, underlining the necessity to optimise these parameters for obtaining products with well-defined functional properties.     

Phenolic profiles and cellular antioxidant activity of longan pulp of 24 representative Chinese cultivars

The phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of fruits are associated with their health benefits. Longan is a traditional Chinese edible and medicinal fruit, but its varietal differences in phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity were unknown. Twenty-four longan cultivars from southern China were investigated in this study. Their total phenolic and flavonoid contents in pulp were 22.09–132.47 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g and 2.48–14.26 mg catechin equivalents/100 g, respectively. The mean contributions of free phenolics and ?avonoids to the total were 82.5% and 94.0%, respectively. Among 10 individual phenolics detected by HPLC, the contents of epicatechin, 4-methylcatechol, chlorogenic, and vanillic acids were relatively higher. The cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) of longan pulp showed significant varietal discrepancies and positive correlation with phenolic and flavonoid contents. Phenolics in longan pulp of 24 cultivars showed lower CAA potential than many other fruits with the CAA qualities from 0.35 to 1.21 µmol quercetin equivalent/100 µmol total phenolics. Longan cultivars were classified into six groups by hierarchical clustering analysis. Six cultivars in group 4 and 6 had higher phytochemical contents and CAA activity.     

果皮中酚类物质含量、抗氧化活性及在体外消化过程中成分的变化

从21 种果皮中筛选出总酚、总黄酮含量较高的果皮,并选择1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,DPPH）自由基、2,2’-联氨-双-3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸（2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid),ABTS）阳离子自由基清除力评价其抗氧化活性。对筛选出酚类物质含量高且抗氧化活性强的果皮进行体外模拟胃肠液消化,研究不同消化时间对总酚、总黄酮释放量的影响,并通过透析袋模拟肠道的吸收作用,考察其生物利用率,同时利用超高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器/电喷雾飞行时间质谱（ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector/electrospray ionization-time of fight-mass spectrometry,UPLC-DAD/ESI-TOF-MS）研究模拟胃肠液消化前后酚类物质变化。结果表明：21 种果皮中石榴皮（总酚含量为（58.09±0.46）mg/g、总黄酮含量为（47.50±0.39）mg/g）和山竹皮（总酚含量为（52.09±1.52）mg/g、总黄酮含量为（36.07±0.46）mg/g）中酚类物质含量较高;石榴皮的抗氧化能力强于山竹皮;模拟胃液消化阶段,石榴皮中总酚和总黄酮释放量均增加,模拟肠液消化阶段总酚和总黄酮的释放量先增加后减少;与胃液消化阶段相比,肠液消化阶段总酚和总黄酮含量明显降低;生物利用率测定结果表明总酚的生物利用率在每个时间点均强于总黄酮;通过UPLC-DAD/ESI-TOF-MS从石榴皮提取物中共检测出的5 种酚类化合物（分别为α-安石榴苷、β-安石榴苷、鞣花酸己糖苷、鞣花酸脱氧己糖苷、鞣花酸）,其在胃液消化过程中损失率小于肠液消化,说明石榴皮中酚类物质在酸性环境中结构稳定。     

Effect of environmental factors [air and UV-C irradiation] on some fresh fruit juices

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of environmental factors (air and UV-C irradiation) on various common fruits juices (lemon, orange, papaya and grape). Total phenolics, total ascorbic acid (AA) content and antioxidant capability were determined in atmospheric air oxidation on fresh fruit juices, and the effect of UV-C irradiation on AA was investigated in both fresh fruit juices and commercial AA using RP-HPLC. The total phenolics content was found to be 92.46?±?1.5, 41.53?±?2.1, 138.56?±?2.3 and 110.54?±?3.9?mg/100?ml of lemon, orange, papaya and grape juices, respectively. DPPH radical–scavenging activity of the fresh juices was 94.53?±?3.1, 82.36?±?2.2, 94.65?±?3.5 and 90.74?±?2.6 percentage, whereas the 1-day-old fruit juices showed reduced scavenging activity when compared to fresh juices. Total phenolic (TP) and DPPH-scavenging activity were significantly decreased in the mean at P?<?0.05 level. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content of fresh fruit juices was determined through RP-HPLC; fruit juices that were kept in open container for 24 hrs and that were treated with UV irradiation have shown a decrease in AA content, when compared with control fresh juice samples. AA degradation increased with high significant differences at P?<?0.001 level, with the increase in oxidation time in atmospheric air and UV-C radiation.     

RP-HPLC-DAD Determination of Phenolics in Industrial Apple Pomace

Processing of apple fruits for juice/cider production generates large volume of pomace at industrial scale. This biomass (cell wall material and pulp tissues) is rich in array of nutrients, especially dietary fiber and polyphenols. Apple fruits confront various processing conditions at industrial level, influencing the biochemical composition of generated pomace, including its phenolic profile. In present study, a simple, fast and reproducible reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method using diode array detector was developed and validated for separation of different phenolics present in industrial apple pomace. The present method showed reliable and reproducible intraday (0.2–4.0 % RSD) and interday (3.7–8.1 % RSD) precision with limits of detection and quantification values in range of 0.14–0.58 and 0.48–1.95 μg ml^?1, respectively, for all the phenolics. Different solvent-mediated extraction of dried pomace powder was also performed to evaluate its total antioxidant potential using standard spectrophotometric assays. The major phenolics found in industrial apple pomace extracts were quercetin (1.4–10.3 μg mg^?1), phloretin (1.1–9.3 μg mg^?1) and phloridzin (0.62–2.0 μg mg^?1).     

Concentration of morpholine residues in major fruits and juices and its dietary exposure in China

Morpholine is a common chemical used as emulsifier in the preparation of wax coatings for some fruit to help them remain fresh and protect against insects and fungal contamination. It has been reported that morpholine has acute toxic effects on rodents. In the present study, morpholine concentrations were analysed in fruits (citrus fruits, apples, strawberries and grapes) and juices (apple juice and orange juice) in order to determine dietary exposure among the Chinese population. A total of 732 fruit and juice samples were collected during 2015–2016, which covered major foods in China. Fruit and juice consumption data were taken from China National Nutrient and Health Survey (2002) and include data from 16,407 fruit or juice consumers. It was found that mean dietary exposure to morpholine residues from fruits and/or juices for general Chinese consumers and children 2–6 years old were 0.42 and 1.24 µg/kg bw/day, respectively. The 97.5% intake in general Chinese consumers and children 2–6 years old were 2.25 and 6.90 µg/kg bw/day, respectively. The primary food sources of the morpholine dietary intake of general Chinese consumers were citrus fruits (57.4%) and apples (40.8%). These findings suggested that dietary exposure to morpholine in the Chinese population was lower than the acceptable daily intake of morpholine, and there are no health concerns.     

Chemical and Phytochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activities of Three Pomegranate Cultivars Grown in South Africa

A comparative study of chemical contents and antioxidant activities of three pomegranate cultivars (‘Arakta’, ‘Bhagwa’ and ‘Ruby’) grown in South Africa was conducted. Fresh pomegranate juice (PJ) of each cultivar were assessed for soluble solid contents (SSCs), pH and titratable acidity (TA), while extracted juice samples were evaluated for total phenolic (TP), including total tannins (TT), proanthocyanidins (Pcy), total flavonoids, anthocyanins and gallic acids (GA) using spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidant properties of the juice samples were evaluated against stable 2, 2–diphenyl–1–picryl hydrazyl, as well as in ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and QuantiChrom? (TAC) antioxidant assays. There were significant differences in the chemical properties of the cultivars. SSC, TA and pH varied between the range of 14.07–15.10 °Brix, 0.22–0.28 g/100 ml and 3.32–3.64, respectively. ‘Bhagwa’ had the highest TP (449.9 mg/100 ml), 1.3-fold and 1.6-fold higher than ‘Arakta’ and ‘Ruby’, respectively. The strongest total antioxidant activity was exhibited by ‘Bhagwa’ with an antioxidant index of 95.7%, followed by ‘Arakta’ (93.2%) and ‘Ruby’ (79.9%). PJ phytochemical properties (TP, TT, Pcy, GA) and antioxidant activity (FRAP and TAC) were significantly correlated (r ²?=?0.509–0.885) with each other.     

Comparison of some biochemical characteristics of different citrus fruits

The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of some citrus fruits. The contents of dietary fibre, total polyphenols, essential phenolics, ascorbic acid and some trace elements of lemons, oranges and grapefruits were determined and compared with their total radical-trapping antioxidative potential (TRAP). There were no significant differences in the contents of total, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre in the studied peeled fruits or their peels. The contents of total, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre in peels were significantly higher than in peeled fruits (P< 0.05 in all cases). The peeled lemons, oranges and grapefruits contain 164±10.3; 154±10.2 and 135±10.1 and their peels 190±10.6; 179±10.5 and 155±10.3 mg/100 g of total polyphenols, respectively. The content of total polyphenols in peeled lemons and their peels was significantly higher than in peeled oranges and grapefruits and their peels, respectively. The content of total polyphenols in the peels was significantly higher than in peeled fruits (P< 0.05 in all cases). The same results were obtained in the investigation of essential phenolics and ascorbic acid. The content of Fe in peeled lemons and their peels was significantly higher than in peeled oranges and grapefruits and their peels, respectively. Also the TRAP was significantly higher in peeled lemons and their peels than in peeled oranges and grapefruits and their peels, respectively. In all three fruits, the TRAP was significantly higher in peels than in peeled fruits (P< 0.05). In conclusion, lemons possess the highest antioxidant potential among the studied citrus fruits and are preferable for dietary prevention of cardiovascular and other diseases. The peels of all citrus fruits are rich in dietary fibres and phenolic compounds and suitable for industrial processing.