Fluctuations in the Levels of Antioxidant Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Ten Small Fruits During One Year of Frozen Storage

Abstract

The fluctuations in antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2´-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays), total phenol, total flavonoid, and total anthocyanin contents of 10 small fruits (sweet cherries, sour cherries, strawberries, red currants, raspberries, blackberries, hawthorn, cornelian cherries, and red and white grapes) were monitored during storage at −20°C. After one year in storage, all varieties except hawthorn and white grapes retained equal or slightly greater total phenol content in comparison to the initial values. The total flavonoid and total anthocyanin levels also remained stable or even increased after 12 months in all fruits exept hawthorn and strawberries. Red currants and raspberries exhibited optimal preservation of antioxidant capacity, while hawthorn showed a decrease in the antioxidant capacity during different time points in storage as well as at the end of storage. Analyzed fruits were classified into four main groups based on hierarchical cluster analysis.