title: Antioxidant capability and phytochemicals content of Sicilian prickly fruits.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to compare three cultivars of prickly pear fruits ("Sanguigna" red, "Sulfarina" yellow and "Muscaredda" white) regarding the quality parameters of antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, betalains and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Depending on the crop operation, these cultivars are represented by "Agostane" and "Bastardoni" and are located at an altitude between 150 and 750 m, above sea level. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated by ORAC assay. Total phenolic compounds, betalains and ascorbic acid recovered from pulp juice, were determined by a spectrophotometric analysis. The results indicate that the different cultivars of prickly pear possess antioxidant activity in function of the type of the adopted practice. These fruits were derived from the practice of scozzolatura, by dropping the berries to encourage a second bloom of the plant. Among the "Bastardoni", the "Sulfarina" possesses the highest antioxidant activity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Science and.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maria Cova
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Science and.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crascì
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Science and.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panico
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemical Science , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.
authors.forename: Alfio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catalfo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Chemical Science , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Guidi
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D050858:Betalains / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010848:Picolinic Acids; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; C488995:betaxanthin; D050858:Betalains; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Ascorbic acid; ORAC assay; spectrofluorimetry; total betalains; total phenolics