Planta Med 2009; 75 - PD41
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234520

Antioxidant capacity against peroxyl free radicals of various edible fruits from Bosnia

I Tahirovic 1, J Toromanovic 1, A Sapcanin 1, A Hrvat 1, E Sofic 1
  • 1University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Science, Zmaja od Bosne 35, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity (AC) of various edible fruits from Bosnia. AC measurements were performed on the fruits of bilberry, cranberry, cherry and wild cherry, strawberry, black and white mulberry, black and red currant, and raspberry. The AC was determined using modified Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay, previously described by Cao et al. [1]. The ORAC assay is based on the propensity of the fluorescence emitted by fluorescein to be quenched when exposed to free radical action. The AC of the analysed fruits was in the following order (expressed in mmol trolox equivalents per gram fresh fruits, mmolTE/gf.f.): bilberry 12.61, cranberry 10.54, wild cherry 8.95, black currant 8.42, black mulberry 7.84, red currant 3.96, strawberry 2.91, white mulberry 2.25, cherry (1.71 for Prunus cerasus L. and 1.41 for Prunus avium L.), and raspberry 0.68. The results are in good correlation with total content of phenols (TCP) and anthocyanins in the same fruits from Bosnia reported by Toromanovic et al. [2]. In fruits with higher TCP it was found higher AC. The analysis of the AC of various fruits can be useful for the characterisation of overall antioxidant status in biological samples.

References: [1] Cao, G. et al. (1995) Clin. Chem. 41:1738–1744.

[2] Toromanovic, J. et al. (2008) Planta Med. 74:1181.