Antioxidant capacity and total phenol content in chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) juices from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

In addition to their undeniable importance for industry, natural plant products are widely used in the production of functional food, which, in addition to satisfying nutritional properties, also exhibits certain pharmacological and physiological effects on human health. Chokeberry fruit and products are considered to be excellent sources of polyphenolic compounds. A large part of polyphenolic compounds from aronia berries is found in the juice, but the flesh of the berry that remains behind in the juice production process is also rich in these bioactive compounds. The aim of the conducted research was to examine the content of total phenols and antioxidant capacity in chokeberry juices grown in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the possible correlation of the parameters. The antioxidant capacity of chokeberry juice in this study was determined by the FRAP method, and the total phenol content by the FC method. Tests were carried out in other juices for the same parameters in order to compare the obtained values. The research results show that the values of antioxidant capacity and total phenols in chokeberry juices vary (20-63 mmol Fe II/L; 850-4930 mg GAE/L), but are significantly higher than in other analyzed juices (7-25 mmol Fe II/L; 220–1265 mg GAE/L). By comparing the content of total phenols and antioxidant capacity in pasteurized and unpasteurized chokeberry juice samples, it can be concluded that they are higher in the sample prepared by the pasteurization process. Statistical parameters show that the linear correlation between the content of total phenols and the antioxidant capacity of chokeberry juices (r=0,964 ; p ˂0,001 ) and other analysed juices (r=0,960 ;p  ˂0,001 ) is statistically significant.