Abstract

 

The aim of this work was to determine the antioxidant activity of fruits from several wild fruit species: Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill., Cornus mas L., Prunus spinosa L., and Rosa canina L. depending on the content of vitamin C, total phenols, total anthocyanins, and flavan 3-ols. The content of vitamin C was examined by the volumetric method, total phenols according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method, total anthocyanins according to the acid–ethanol method, and p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (p-DMACA) was used for the quantification of flavan-3-ols. Determining of the antioxidant activity was performed spectrophotometrically as an anti-radical activity against the stable product DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil). In terms of the parameters examined, statistically significant differences were determined between the examined species. The highest content of vitamin C (356 mg/100 gFW), total phenols (38799 mg/kgFW), and antioxidant activity (89.2% inhibition) were found in the fruits of Rosa canina L. The highest content of anthocyanins (1270 mg/kgFW) was found in the fruits of Cornus mas L. The highest presence of flavan-3-ols was found in the fruits of Prunus spinosa (2121 mg/kgFW) and Malus sylvestris (1589 mg/kgFW). The lowest content of vitamin C (14.8 mg/100 gFW), total phenols (2028 mg/kgFW), total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity (50.7% inhibition) were found in the fruits of Malus sylvestris. The antioxidant activity in the fruit of the species under study was in a strong or weaker positive correlation with vitamin C (0.796), total phenols (0.516), and total anthocyanins (0.144), but in a very strong negative correlation with flavan-3-ols (-0.841). The greatest contribution to the antioxidant capacity of the fruits of Malus sylvestris was made by flavanols, in Cornus mas L by vitamin C and total anthocyanins, in Rosa canina L by total phenols and vitamin C, while in Prunus spinosa L. by total phenols.

 

Key words: Vitamin C, Total phenols, Total anhtocyanins, Flavan-3-ols, Antioxidant activity