Evaluation of the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensisSchneid.) fruit.

Background: Neglected and underutilized plant species could serve as a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological activity of Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis Schneid) genotypes of Ukrainian and Slovak origin.

Methods: The content of the total antioxidant activity (DPPH method and molybdenum reducing antioxidant power), total polyphenol, flavonoid and phenolic acid compounds in the pulp and peel of Chinese quince were compared across five genotypes from Slovakia and three from Ukraine.

Results: All tested samples exhibited DPPH• radical scavenging activities with values from 6.17 to 9.56 mg TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) per gram of dry matter (DM). Antioxidant activity, measured using the molybdenum reducing antioxidant power method, ranged from 69.82 to 225.04 mg TEAC per gram of DM. Total polyphenol content was from 34.73 to 82.02 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent), while total flavonoid content was from 0.50 to 26.72 mg QE (quercetin equivalent) per gram DM. Phenolic acid content varied from 1.12 to 8.39 mg CAE (caffeic acid equivalent) per gram DM. The peel extracts contained the highest content of bioactive compounds when compared with the pulp extract (from 15.30 to 32.60%). All observed parameters differed significantly between the genotypes. Strong positive correlations (p ≤ 0.05) were observed between the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the peel in plants from Slovakia (r = 0.951, r = 0.928, respectively); between the phenolic acid and antioxidant capacities detected using the MRP method – r = 0.950 and r = 0.955 for peel and pulp, respectively; between the determination of antioxidant activity by the DPPH and MRP methods in the peel and pulp in plants from Ukraine (r = 0.986, r = 0.998, respectively). Significantly positive correlations were found between all the parameters in the samples of Ukrainian origin.

Conclusions: The results showed that all fruit extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activities, which generally correlated positively with the total phenolic content. This study demonstrates that Chinese quince fruit grown in Ukraine and Slovakia is a perspective source of valuable polyphenol content with high antioxidant activity and is a valuable fruit for use in the agriculture and food industries.