engleski

Antioxidant activity of berries, content of some polyphenols and their antioxidant activity

In the last few decades polyphenols are studied intensively because of their potent positive role in human health. They are potent antioxidants, free radical scavengers and metal chelators. Polyphenols also exhibit various physiological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-arthritic activities and may have a positive role in decreasing the risk of some chronic diseases such as cancer or heart diseases. Strongly coloured berries are important sources of polyphenolic compounds in human diet. They contain high levels of anthocyanins, flavonol glycosides and hydroxycinnamic acids. The aim of this study was to investigate the content of individual flavonols (quercetin-3-rutinoside, quercetin) and hydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid) in five berry species (chokeberry, elderberry, black currant, red currant and blueberry) by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a photodiode array detector (PDA). Antioxidant activity of berry extract was determined by using DPPH assay. In addition, antioxidant properties of polyphenolic compounds that were found in relatively high amounts in berries were investigated by using DPPH assay. The results showed that investigated berries contain high amount of quercetin-3-rutinoside and chlorogenic acid whereas the content of quercetin, p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic were considerably lower. The strongest antioxidant activity was found in chokeberry, followed by blueberry, black currant, elderberry and red currant. Quercetin-3-rutinoside showed stronger antioxidant activity than chlorogenic acid.

berries; quercetin-3-rutinoside; chlorogenic acid; antioxidant activity; HPLC

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