Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of Bulgarian fruits

M. Kratchanova, A. Lojek, M. Ciz, P. Denev

Abstract: The antioxidant activity of 26 Bulgarian fruits was measured by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (OR AC) method. The total polyphenol content of the samples was investigated as well. Results varied considerably among the analyzed samples. Based on fresh weight, fruits of the elderberry (Sambucus nigra) showed the highest antioxidant capacity (205.4 ± 15.2 μmol TE.g-1), followed by brier (Rosa canina) (201.1 ± 14.6 μmol TE.g-1), chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) (160.8 ± 4.8μmol TE.g-1) and hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) (153.6 ± 9.1 μmol TE.g-1). There was a good linear correlation between ORAC antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content, indicating that polyphenols are the major contributors to the antioxidant activity of the investigated fruits.

Keywords: antioxidant activity; fruits; ORAC; polyphenols

Date published: 2019-03-29