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Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment Vol.7 (3&4) : 513-517. 2009
www.world-food.net
Antioxidant activity and total phenolics concentration in apple peel and flesh is determined by cultivar and agroclimatic growing regions in Chile Jose A. Yuri 1*, Amalia Neira 1, Alvaro Quilodran 1, Yoshie Motomura 2 and Ivan Palomo
3
1
Centro de Pomaceas, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Talca, P.O. Box 747, Talca, Chile. Department of Agriculture, Yamagata University, 1-23, Wakabamachi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan. 3 Departamento de Bioquimica Clinica e Inmunohematologia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, P.O. Box 747, Talca, Chile. *e-mail:
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]
2
Received 22 July 2009, accepted 24 August 2009.
Abstract The apple is one of the most highly consumed fruits in the world. With Chile being one of the main apple exporters in the world, studies that contribute local information about the apple’s antioxidant characteristics are important since the consumer is interested in knowing the composition of foods in order to consume those that are more beneficial to their health. This study evaluated the antioxidant activity and phenolics content in the apple peel and flesh of different cultivars coming from various climatic regions in the central-south region of Chile. Assays were carried out to determine: 1) peel and flesh antioxidant activity for different cultivars; 2) peel antioxidant activity according to the time of harvest for different cultivars and, 3) antioxidant activity and phenolic concentration in apple peel and flesh for trees grown in different agroclimatic regions in Chile. The antioxidant activity in peel was 4 to 15 times higher than in flesh depending on the cultivar (cv). The peel of the cv Red King Oregon showed the greatest activity (8.96±0.57 mg g FW-1) with results of early harvesting being greater than those of later harvests. The antioxidant activity and phenolic content in Granny Smith rose significantly with the increase in latitude from Graneros (34°05’S, 72°43’W; 200 m.a.s.l.) to Temuco (38°44’S, 72°40’W; 45 m.a.s.l.) (4.4±0.48 to 7.0±0.47 mg*g FW-1 and 5.2±0.13 to 7.1±0.23 mg g FW-1, respectively). The greater antioxidant activity in the peel of the cultivars studied would be explained by the presence of anthocyanins and quercetin glycosides found there. The antioxidant activity of each cultivar depended on the geographic location where it was grown. Knowledge about the potential antioxidant capacity could lead to the development of functional foods. Key words: Apples, antioxidants, environment, flesh, human health, Malus domestica, phenolic content, peel.
Introduction Epidemiological evidence indicates that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables promotes health, diminishing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) 1, which is the main cause of death in the world, by decreasing various cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus and obesity 2. In this context, beneficial characteristics such as lowering oxidized LDL, inhibiting plaque aggregation and protecting the endothelium have been attributed to apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) 3-6. The previously mentioned effects have been mainly associated to phenolic compounds present in apples. This fruit is ranked second after blueberries for total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, apples have a high proportion of free phenolics compared to other fruits 7. There are reports that indicate that the flavonoid content is influenced by different variables such as cultivar 8-10, type of tissue (peel/flesh) 10, 11, plant nutrition 12, climatic region 13 and cold storage 14, among others. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and phenolic content in the peel and flesh of different apple cultivars coming from various climatic regions in the central-south region of Chile. Materials and Methods Plant material: Assay 1. Peel and flesh antioxidant activity in different cultivars (cvs): During the 2003/04 season mature apples cvs. Red King
Oregon (RKO; red), Royal Gala and Fuji (bi-colored) and Granny Smith (green) were collected at commercial harvest time (March 19, February 21, April 5, and March 11, respectively) in an orchard located in San Clemente, Region del Maule, Chile (35°30’S, 71°28’W; 83 m.a.s.l.). Assay 2. Peel antioxidant activity in different cultivars according to the time of harvest: During the 2003/04 season, taken from the same orchard as in Assay 1, mature fruit was collected at the beginning and end of the commercial harvest season for the following cultivars: RKO (March 19 and 25), Fuji (April 05 and 19) and Granny Smith (March 11 and 29). Assay 3. Antioxidant activity and phenolic contents in the peel and flesh of apples grown in different agroclimatic regions of Chile: (a) During the 2006/07 season mature fruit from Granny Smith cultivar was collected at the beginning of the commercial harvest in four different agroclimatic regions (Graneros, San Clemente, Angol and Temuco) (Table 1), which correspond to the main centers of apple production in Chile, and (b) during two seasons (2006/07 and 2007/08) mature fruit of four cultivars, Galaxy, Braeburn, Fuji and Pink Lady, were harvested in two different agroclimatic regions: San Clemente (warm region) and Temuco (cool region).
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Table 1. Different agroclimatic regions of Chile where samples were collected. Location of orchard
Geographycla location
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