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Polyphenol, Anthocyanin and Resveratrol Mass Fractions and Antioxidant Properties of Cranberry Cultivars

Eulalia J. Borowska1*, Barbara Mazur1, Renata Gadzała Kopciuch2 and Bogusław Buszewski2


1University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Chair of Food Plant Chemistry and Processing, Plac Cieszyński 1, PL-10-957 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland

2Chair of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarina 7, PL-87-100 Toruń, Poland

Article history:

Received February 20, 2008
Accepted July 28, 2008

Key words:

cranberry, polyphenols, anthocyanins, resveratrol, antioxidant properties, DPPH·, ·OH and ABTS+ scavenging activity

Summary:

The study involved an evaluation of five cranberry cultivars grown in Poland: Ben Lear, Pilgrim, Stevens, Early Richard and Bergman. The reference sample comprised wild--grown common cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus). The mass fractions of total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and resveratrol (HPLC-DAD), as well as the antioxidant properties (DPPH·, ·OH and ABTS+ radical scavenging capacity) were determined. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were reported as regards the mass fractions of polyphenols and anthocyanins in the fruit of the analysed cultivars. The highest polyphenol mass fraction was determined in Ben Lear (374.2 mg per 100 g of fresh mass), while Early Richard was the richest source of anthocyanins (77.1 mg per 100 g of fresh mass). The fruit of common cranberry contained the highest quantities of resveratrol (712.3 ng/g of fresh mass), and its mass fraction in the investigated cultivars ranged from 533.4 (cv. Stevens) to 598.2 ng/g of fresh mass (Ben Lear). Common cranberry was also marked by the highest ABTS+ scavenging capacity. Stevens and Pilgrim were characterised by a strong capability to scavenge DPPH· and ·OH free radicals. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in respect of the free radical scavenging capacity of most investigated cranberry cultivars.

 


*Corresponding author:           eulalia.borowska@uwm.edu.pl
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