Abstract
Apples (Malus domestica Borkh) are of particular interest for their high content of healthy phytochemicals. This study investigated the antioxidant activity and polyphenolic compounds of extracts from the fruits from Ozark Gold, Starkinson and Kosztela cultivars and additionally leaves from Ozark Gold cv. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography- mass spectrometer (LC–MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The samples were collected during fruit development at 60, 80, 130 and 145 days after full bloom. The concentration of apple phenolics was highest early in the season and decreased during fruit development. The leaf phenolics had a more steady level during all the period of collection than the fruits. Among the five groups of analyzed polyphenols, the procyanidins predominated in apple fruits and dihydrochalcones in leaves. The concentration of polyphenols decreased from 39.15, 5.97 and 33.39 g/kg dw (collected at 60 days after full bloom) to 14.22, 2.05 and 9.31 g/kg dw (collected at 145 days after full bloom) for apples Ozark Gold, Starkinson, Kosztela, respectively. The leaves characterized a much higher content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity than unripe fruits. Antioxidant capacity measured by 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods was higher when the apple was unripe and the leaves were young. The results indicate that, unripe fruits and leaves are very good raw material for polyphenol nutraceutical production with high antioxidant potential.
Highlights
In recent years, the secondary metabolites, which occur abundantly in plant foods, have been found by human nutritionists to be beneficial components of functional food
The main objective of the present study was to establish the antioxidant activity modulated by phenolic content (LC–MS and HPLC) in unripe fruits during apple development
Our results confirmed that the concentrations of polyphenols were highest at the first stage of maturation in fruits and leaves, with the mean concentrations of polyphenols corresponding to much higher antioxidant capacity
Summary
The secondary metabolites, which occur abundantly in plant foods, have been found by human nutritionists to be beneficial components of functional food. Apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh) are one of the major fruits available on the market in the world and the consumption of this fruit is common in many countries. This fruit is one of the major sources of polyphenol compounds [3] which play an important role for the protection of humans in many civilization diseases such as type-2 diabetes, lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, asthma or thrombotic stroke. The major polyphenolic groups, found in various apple varieties, are hydroxycinnamic acids, mainly chlorogenic acid; flavan-3-ols as derivatives of (+)-catechin or (−)-epicatechin as monomers; dimers, oligomers or polymers of procyanidins, and dihydrochalcones, mainly connected with glucose and xyloglucose; flavonols, mainly as derivatives of quercetin and keampferol
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
