Phenolic acids and flavonoids profiles of extracts from edible wild fruits and their antioxidant properties

In this study, the total phenolic, total flavonoids, phenolic compounds, the mineral content, and antioxidant activity of fruit extracts of seven wild species (Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Prunus spinosa L., Rosa canina L., Hippophaë rhamnoides L., Rubus fruticosus L., Prunus padus, Cornus mas L.) were investigated. The results indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in the total phenolics and total flavonoids content, between the seven analyzed species. These ranged from 184.69 to 727.29 mg GAE/100 g FW and 17.27 to –165.55 mg QE/100 g FW, respectively. The antioxidant activity found in fruits was not directly affected by the total phenolic content (TPC). This activity was linked to a larger extent to the type of individual phenolic compounds and to a lesser extent to the TPC, because fruits with higher TPC have not always presented the highest values of antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis of methanolic extract showed the presence of phenolic acids (i.e. gallic, vanillic, chlorogenic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, salycilic, elagic, and trans-cinnamic) and flavonoids (i.e. catechin, epicatechin, rutin, myricetin, and quercetin). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in each individual mineral between fruits from wild flora. The fruits tissues of wild species turned out to be a good source of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and boron (B). The results demonstrated that wild species possessed great potential for food production as sources of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and minerals, for food supplements or functional foods.