Variation in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. selections from Mediterranean region of Turkey

Several fruit characteristics were determined along with the total phenolic content (TP) and total antioxidant capacities (TAC) of eighteen Prunus cerasifera accessions previously selected from the Mediterranean region of Turkey and grown in Mut, Mersin, Turkey. Five cultivars (‘Can2’, ‘Cin’, ‘Havran’, ‘Ozark Premier’ and ‘Papaz’) from the same orchard were also included in this study. TP and TAC were determined by ferric reducing ability (FRAP) and trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. The accessions were found to be significantly different for all the characters tested. TP ranged between 136.8 (‘Ozark Premier’) and 583.1 (Selection No. 3) Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/kg fresh weight (fw) while FRAP and TEAC measurements of TAC ranged between 0.123 (Selection 33C 02) and 0.127 (Selection 31C 18) to 0.835 (‘Can 2’) and 0.420 (Selection No. 8) mmol TE/kg fw. The correlation analysis indicated that TP was significantly correlated with L and hue° values of color measurements. While FRAP was found to be correlated with pH, no significant correlation was detected with TEAC. A notable variation among the green-fleshed P. cerasifera accessions was reported for TP and TAC and, P. cerasifera had comparable TP to other plum species while it did not have a good antioxidant activity.

► We determined fruit characteristics, phenolic content and antioxidant capacities P. cerasifera.
► The accessions were found to be significantly different for all the characters tested.
► While FRAP was found to be correlated with pH, no significant correlation was detected with TEAC.
► P. cerasifera had comparable total phenolics to other plum species.
► P. cerasifera did not have a good antioxidant activity.