title: Polyphenolic composition and antioxidant activity of the under-utilised Prunus mahaleb L. fruit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The identification of novel plant-based functional foods or nutraceutical ingredients that possess bioactive properties with antioxidant function has recently become important to the food, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries. This study evaluates the polyphenolic composition, identifies bioactive compounds and assays the total antioxidant capacity of Prunus mahaleb L. fruits collected from different populations and sampling years in the countryside around Bari (Apulia Region, Italy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified nine polyphenolic compounds including major anthocyanins, coumaric acid derivatives and flavonols from P. mahaleb fruits. The anthocyanin content (in some populations > 5 g kg(-1) fresh weight; FW) in the fruit was comparable to that reported for so-called superfruits such as bilberries, chokeberries and blackcurrants. Coumaric acid derivatives comprised a large portion of the total polyphenolic content in the P. mahaleb fruits. Antioxidant activities, assessed using ORAC and TEAC assays, measured up to 150 and 45 mmol Trolox equivalents kg(-1) FW, respectively. Therefore antioxidant capacity of P. mahaleb fruits is relatively high and comparable to that of superfruit varieties that are often used in commercial nutraceutical products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that mahaleb fruit (currently not consumed fresh or used in other ways) could serve as a source of bioactive compounds and therefore find interest from the functional food and nutraceutical industries, as a natural food colorant and antioxidant ingredient in the formulation of functional foods. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors: Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), CNR, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni - 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Blando
authors: Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), CNR, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni - 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Albano
authors: Food, Nutrition and Health Department, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors: Yazheng
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Institute of Chemical Methodologies (IMC), CNR, Area della Ricerca Roma 1, Via Salaria Km 29,300 - 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Nicoletti
authors: Institute of Chemical Methodologies (IMC), CNR, Area della Ricerca Roma 1, Via Salaria Km 29,300 - 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy.
authors: Danilo
authors: D
authors: Corradini
authors: Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), CNR, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni - 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors: Noemi
authors: N
authors: Tommasi
authors: Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), CNR, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni - 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: Gerardi
authors: Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), CNR, Via Prov. le Lecce-Monteroni - 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Mita
authors: Food, Nutrition and Health Department, University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: Kitts
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000737:chemistry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002839:Chromans; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D044948:Flavonols / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D000072257:Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D044948:Flavonols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid
keywords: Prunus sp; Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity; anthocyanins; coumaric acid derivatives; oxygen radical absorbance capacity; polyphenols