Abstract
Honeysuckles are frost tolerant plants providing early-ripening fruits with health-promoting properties which have been used in traditional medicine in China. This study evaluates the impact of the climatic conditions of two areas on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity (AOA; by DPPH—2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and photochemiluminescence assays) of eight cultivars of honeysuckle berries (Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Pojark) of various ripening times. Expectedly, chemical composition and AOA values varied depending on the cultivars, locality and selected methods. Berries from Lednice (the area with more sunshine) showed higher average contents of total monomeric anthocyanins (TMAC; pH differential absorbance method), vitamins C and E and total phenolics (high-performance liquid chromatography). In contrast, berries from Žabčice (the area with more rain) performed higher average contents of total phenolics and flavonoids (UV/VIS spectroscopic analyses). Interestingly, fundamental amounts of chlorogenic acid were determined irrespective of the locality. Regarding TMAC and vitamin C content, early ripening Amphora from both areas has been assessed as the best cultivar; concerning the content of phenolic compounds, Fialka from both areas and Amphora from Lednice is considered as the most valuable. The obtained results may facilitate the selection of the most valuable cultivars for both producers and consumers.
Highlights
Honeysuckle berries are edible fruits of the genus Lonicera from the Caprifoliaceae family counting approximately 180 species occurring mostly in the moderate zone of the northern hemisphere
Evident differences in the total phenolic (TP), flavonoid (FL) and monomeric anthocyanin (TMAC) contents have been established reflecting the influence of the locality with different climatic conditions (Figure 1)
Berries of Lonicera caerulea L. may be considered as a promising source of the main phenolic compounds and vitamins
Summary
Honeysuckle berries are edible fruits of the genus Lonicera from the Caprifoliaceae family counting approximately 180 species occurring mostly in the moderate zone of the northern hemisphere. The Lonicera shrub is extraordinarily frost-resistant and provides delicious early-ripening fruits known as honeysuckle berries or haskap [1] As they are substantially rich in bioactive compounds, many cultivars with different ripening times, growing conditions and tastes are grown commercially in some European countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Romania, as well as in Russia, Japan, and Canada [2]. Due to such considerable contents of bioactive compounds enhancing antioxidant potential, honeysuckle berries and extracts from leaves, flowers and branches possess many beneficial health properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic [3]. Honeysuckle products are widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine and they are considered as a promising material for diverse pharmacological and cosmetics applications, the food industry and agriculture [4,5].
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