The nature of the synergistic actions between medicinally active constituents in sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L)

The levels of anthocyanins and other flavonoids, as well as melatonin in various sour cherry products (frozen and dried cherries, individually quick frozen (IQF) cherry powders and juice concentrates) from two cherry cultivars, namely, Montmorency and Balaton were comparatively analyzed by HPLC and Mass Spectrometry (MS) techniques. Our results show that the major anthocyanin compound in Balaton and Montmorency cherries is cyanidin 3-glucosylrutinoside, followed by cyanidin 3-rutinoside, cyanydin sophoroside, and peonidin 3-glucoside. The other major flavonoid compounds are quercetin and isorhamnetin rutinoside. All cherry products analyzed have substantial amounts of total anthocyanins and total phenolics.