Antioxidant capacities, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and vitamin C contents of nectarine, peach, and plum cultivars from California

J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Aug 14;50(17):4976-82. doi: 10.1021/jf020136b.

Abstract

Genotypic variation in composition and antioxidant activity was evaluated using 25 cultivars, 5 each of white-flesh nectarines, yellow-flesh nectarines, white-flesh peaches, yellow-flesh peaches, and plums, at the ripe (ready-to-eat) stage. The ranges of total ascorbic acid (vitamin C) (in mg/100 g of fresh weight) were 5-14 (white-flesh nectarines), 6-8 (yellow-flesh nectarines), 6-9 (white-flesh peaches), 4-13 (yellow-flesh peaches), and 3-10 (plums). Total carotenoids concentrations (in microg/100 g of fresh weight) were 7-14 (white-flesh nectarines), 80-186 (yellow-flesh nectarines), 7-20 (white-flesh peaches), 71-210 (yellow-flesh peaches), and 70-260 (plums). Total phenolics (in mg/100 g of fresh weight) were 14-102 (white-flesh nectarines), 18-54 (yellow-flesh nectarines), 28-111 (white-flesh peaches), 21-61 (yellow-flesh peaches), and 42-109 (plums). The contributions of phenolic compounds to antioxidant activity were much greater than those of vitamin C and carotenoids. There was a strong correlation (0.93-0.96) between total phenolics and antioxidant activity of nectarines, peaches, and plums.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Ascorbic Acid / analysis*
  • Carotenoids / analysis*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Phenols / analysis*
  • Prunus / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Phenols
  • Carotenoids
  • Ascorbic Acid