title: Phenolic compounds in blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) leaves relative to leaf position and harvest date.
abstract: Blackcurrant leaves are an essential source of phenolic compounds and this study investigated their variation relative to leaf positions and harvest date. The phenolic content varied between harvest dates, although leaf position on the shoot and interactions also played an important role. The contents of quercetin-malonyl-glucoside, kaempferol-malonyl-glucoside isomer and kaempferol-malonyl-glucoside were higher than that of the other identified phenolic compounds, whereas epigallocatechin was the lowest for all investigated leaf positions and harvest dates. The content of several of the compounds was highest in June, while quercetin-glucoside, kaempferol-glucoside and total phenols, increased towards the end of the season. Leaf position influenced the content of myricetin-malonyl-glucoside, myricetin-malonyl-glucoside isomer, quercetin-malonyl-glucoside and kaempferol-glucoside at the end of the season. Knowledge relating to the influence of ontogenetic and harvest time on the content of specific phenolic compounds might contribute in tailoring functional foods or pharmaceutical products using blackcurrant leaves as natural ingredients.
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Breeding, Balsgård, Fjälkestadsvägen 459, SE-291 94 Kristianstad, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Breeding, Box 101, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden. Electronic address: michael.rajeev.vagiri@slu.se.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vagiri
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Biochemical Science Group, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utillisation Theme, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conner
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Biochemical Science Group, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utillisation Theme, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, United Kingdom; School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Breeding, Box 101, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Staffan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Biochemical Science Group, Enhancing Crop Productivity and Utillisation Theme, The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verrall
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Breeding, Box 101, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Breeding, Balsgård, Fjälkestadsvägen 459, SE-291 94 Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kimmo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rumpunen
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000032:analysis; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011794:Quercetin / Q000032:analysis; D031965:Ribes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D044949:Kaempferols; D010636:Phenols; C006552:kaempferol; D011794:Quercetin
keywords: Flavonols; Functional food; Growth stage; HPLC; Leaf age; Organic growing; Phenols; Polyphenols; Seasonal variation