Abstract
This study aimed to explore the main biochemical components and the antioxidant capacity of five strawberry tree fruits using three antioxidant essays within the ecotypic comparison scheme, to find out the most valuable fruit presenting disease-preventing properties. Total phenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and β-Carotene bleaching assays), pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and moisture content were investigated in five strawberry tree genotypes belonging to several areas in Morocco. Phenolic compounds were also identified using high performance chromatography (HPLC), with a diode array detector (DAD). High significant differences (p ˂ 0.05) were revealed among the examined genotypes regarding their total phenols (25.37–39.06 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g Dry weight (DW), total flavonoids (3.30–7.07 mg RE/g Dry weight (DW), total anthocyanins (0.15–0.64 mg cya-3-glu/100g Dry weight (DW), pH (2.44–3.92), titratable acidity (0.65–1.01 g malic acid/100g Fresh weight (FW), and soluble solids (14.83–18.53%). The average radical scavenging capacity, assessed using three methods, exhibited the following concentration ranges: 3.33–21.08, 2.25–19.58, and 1.08–13 mg Ascorbic Equivalent (AAE/g Dry weight(DW) for the DPPH scavenging test, ABTS, and β-carotene bleaching, respectively. Seventeen phenolic compounds were identified in sampled cultivars. Gallocatechol and catechin were found to be the major phenolic compounds. The correlation matrix revealed significant correlations among investigated variables, particularly ABTS and DPPH. The principal component analysis showed that the first three components formed 90.25% of the total variance. The following variables: chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid derivative, ellagic acid, rutin, and cyanidin−30.5-diglucoside, were the most involved in the total variance. The results revealed highly promising physico-biochemical profiles within the studied strawberry tree genotypes.
Highlights
Fruit trees present a widely genetic diversity reflected in their broad range of mopho-agronomic, multiple pharmacological activities, and biochemical composition, which are, very diverse.Their fruits are fundamentally very rich in terms of bioactive molecules, including phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers, which have vital functions in human health by alleviating several chronic diseases [1,2,3,4].Fruits as a source of nutrients and bioactive molecules and health-promoting properties, remains, so far, a hot topic in the scientific community
This study is likely to provide the first set of data on the physicobiochemical attributes of strawberry tree fruits (Arbutus unedo) prospected in an endemic area, where this species is spontaneously growing in Morocco
Results displayed significant differences among sampled trees based on the investigated physicobiochemical attributes
Summary
Fruit trees present a widely genetic diversity reflected in their broad range of mopho-agronomic, multiple pharmacological activities, and biochemical composition, which are, very diverse.Their fruits are fundamentally very rich in terms of bioactive molecules, including phytochemicals (phenolics, carotenoids, lignans, stilbenes, etc.), vitamins (mainly vitamins, A, C, E, and K), minerals (i.e., potassium, calcium, and magnesium), and dietary fibers, which have vital functions in human health by alleviating several chronic diseases [1,2,3,4].Fruits (berries in particular) as a source of nutrients and bioactive molecules and health-promoting properties, remains, so far, a hot topic in the scientific community. Fruit trees present a widely genetic diversity reflected in their broad range of mopho-agronomic, multiple pharmacological activities, and biochemical composition, which are, very diverse. Their fruits are fundamentally very rich in terms of bioactive molecules, including phytochemicals (phenolics, carotenoids, lignans, stilbenes, etc.), vitamins (mainly vitamins, A, C, E, and K), minerals (i.e., potassium, calcium, and magnesium), and dietary fibers, which have vital functions in human health by alleviating several chronic diseases [1,2,3,4]. Fruits (berries in particular) as a source of nutrients and bioactive molecules and health-promoting properties, remains, so far, a hot topic in the scientific community. The antioxidant attributes of these compounds act as reducing agents, metal chelators, hydrogen donors, and singlet oxygen quenchers [2,3,4].
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