Activity and contents of polyphenolic antioxidants in the whole fruit, flesh and peel of three apple cultivars

• Published in: Archivos latinoamericanos de nutrición 2009-01, Vol.59 (1)
• Main Authors: Francilene Gracieli Kunradi Vieira, Graciele da Silva Campelo Borges, Copetti, Cristiane, Gonzaga, Luciano Valdemiro, Eduardo da Costa Nunes, Fett, Roseane
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Acids; Antioxidants; Apples; Cultivars; Food; Fruits; Legumes; Potassium
• ISSN: 0004-0622; 2309-5806

The concentration of polyphenolic compounds, such as flavanols and anthocyanins, and the antioxidant activity in apples (Malus domestica Borkh) seem to differ with cultivar, maturity stage, environmental conditions and the part of the fruit. In this work, the total phenolic, flavanol and anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity were measured in the flesh, whole fruit and peel from apple cultivars Fuji, Epagri COOP24 and Epagri F5P283 cultivated in Southern Brazil. Total phenolic content assayed by Folin-Ciocalteu method, flavanol by modified p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde method, anthocyanin content by pH differential method and antioxidant activity measured using ABTS assay. One-way analysis of variance, Tukey’s test and correlation analysis were performed. Within each cultivar, the total phenolic, flavanol and anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activity were highest in the peels, followed by the whole fruit and the flesh. In the peel, whole fruit and flesh the Epagri F5P283 apple had the highest total phenolic contents and the highest total antioxidant activity, while that Epagri COOP24 was highest in flavanols and anthocyanins. Total phenolic content was positively associated with total antioxidant activity in flesh, whole fruit and peel. These results demonstrate that phenolic compounds have a significant contribution to the total antioxidant activity which varies considerably depending of the part of the fruit and of the apple cultivar analyzed. La concentración de compuestos polifenoles, como flavanoles y antocianinas, y la actividad antioxidante en manzanas (Malus domestica Borkh) parecen diferir con la cultivar, etapa de madurez, condiciones ambientales y la parte de la fruta. En este trabajo, el contenido de fenoles, flavanoles y antocianinas totales y la actividad antioxidante fueron medidos en fruta entera, pulpa y cáscara de las cultivares de manzana Fuji, Epagri COOP24 y Epagri F5P283 cultivadas en el sur de Brasil. El contenido de fenoles totales se midió con el método Folin-Ciocalteu, flavanoles con el método modificado p-dimetilaminocinamaldehido, antocianinas con el método de diferencia de pH y actividad antioxidante fue medida aplicando el método ABTS. Se realizó análisis de varianza de un factor, prueba de Tukey y análisis de correlación. Dentro de cada cultivar, el contenido de fenoles, flavanoles y antocianinas totales y la actividad antioxidante fueron más alto en las cáscaras, seguidas por la fruta entera y pulpa. En la cáscara,