Abstract
Fruits of the three Arbutus species native in the Eastern Mediterranean region, i.e. Arbutus andrachne, A. unedo and their natural hybrid A. × andrachnoides, collected from two different regions in Greece (Kalamos and Varympompi), were analysed comparatively in order to determine their phenolic profile and measure the antioxidant activity using two different single electron transfer-based assays, ferric reducing ability (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazil radical scavenging capacity (DPPH). The pomological characteristics of the hybrid were similar to A. andrachne, while A. unedo had about 2.0-2.5 times larger fruits, with 20% more moisture being 175% heavier. All three species and their biotypes from the two areas had high phenolic content and antioxidant properties and were clearly pulled in different groups. Total flavanols scored a very strong correlation to antioxidant capacity. Highest total flavanols concentrations were found in A. andrachne fruits, while the hybrid had similar concentrations with A. unedo. In samples from Kalamos, concerning condensed tannins, total flavones, flavonols, phenolics and antioxidant capacity FRAP, as well as total anthocyanin and delphinidin 3-O-galactoside, the hybrid presented average values compared to the two parental species, while A. andrachne had the highest values. A strong correlation was found between ortho-diphenols and total soluble solids, as well as of total phenolics and flavonoids with total anthocyanins. The polyphenolic content and the antioxidant capacity varied in different biotypes. A. andrachne biotype from Kalamos showed the highest antioxidant capacity and anthocyanin potential. All A. unedo biotypes and A. × andrachnoides from Varympompi showed higher concentrations of ascorbic acid compared to the other biotypes.
Highlights
Fruits were always a significant part of human diet
Width and weight the hybrid fruits had intermediate characteristics compared to the parental species or closer to A. andrachne, while fruit moisture was similar to A. andrachne in both areas and 10-15% lower than A. unedo (Table 2), which had the largest fruits
The present study enriches the previous knowledge on the potential use of Arbutus species found in Eastern Mediterranean region, and for the first time provides information on the polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the natural hybrid A. × andrachnoides in comparison with the two parental species A. unedo and A. andrachne
Summary
Fruits were always a significant part of human diet. The increasing food industries competition in nowadays led to the introduction of new fruiting species for cultivation, such as the temperate forest minor fruits, some of which have a relative wide scale of cultivation since the 15th century. Received in revised form: 20 Jan 2021. From Volume 49, Issue 1, 2021, Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca journal will use article numbers in place of the traditional method of continuous pagination through the volume. The journal will continue to appear quarterly, as before, with four annual numbers
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