COMPARATIVE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME PRUNUS GENUS FRUITS

The alcoholic extracts of eight fruits from Prunus genus from Banat county of Roumania were analyzed for anthocyanins composition, anthocyanins content, total phenolics, and antioxidant capacity. Extraction of the pigments was carried out with acidified methanol in ultrasonic conditions, 60 minutes at 25 degrees C and 59 kHz. The extracts have been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a Dionex Ultimate 3000 apparatus equipped with photodiode array detector and a C18 reversed-phase column for anthocyan ins separation. The amount of monomeric anthocyanins was determined by using the pH differential method and the total phenolics content was quantified by using the Folin-Ciocalteau method. Evaluation of antioxidant activities of extracts was performed by using FRAP ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay, ABTS center dot(+) radical-scavenging activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity assays. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were correlated with their anthocyanins and total phenolics content. A significant level of anthocyanins (4100-4300 mg/L) and total phenolics (6900-7300 mg GAE/L) contents have been obtained for cherry extracts.