The content of total polyphenols, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity in selected varieties of quince (Cydonia oblonga mill.)

<p class="PotText" style="line-height: 115%;">Quince fruit (<em>Cydonia oblonga</em> Miller) is an important source of bioactive compounds, especially of polyphenolic compounds, phenolic acids, flavonoids also of minerals and vitamins. This compounds exhibit health promoting properties including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic and cardioprotective properties. Quine fruit have a high therapeutic value, can be used as good sources of antioxidants. This study provides some knowledge about content of total polyphenols, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity in selected varieties of quince fruit samples. Four quince fruit cultivars (Semen&aacute;č, Konstantinopler Apfelquitte, Cydora Robusta, Mammut) were analysed. The content of the total polyphenols (TPC) was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) at 765 nm using spectrophotometer. Ascorbic acid (AsA) content was determined using standard HPLC gradient method. Antioxidant activity (AA) was measures using a&nbsp;compound DPPH˙(2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The content of (TPC) in fresh samples of quince fruit ranged from 661 &plusmn;11.60 mg.kg^-1 to 1044 &plusmn;11.03 mg.kg^-1 and content of AsA were in interval from 151 &plusmn;0.58 mg.kg^-1 to 215 &plusmn;0.75 mg.kg^-1. The values of antioxidant activity in quince fruit samples were in range from 26.90 &plusmn;0.61%to 49.14 &plusmn;0.38%. Statistically significant highest content TPC, AsA and AA was recorded in cultivar Konstaninopler Apfelquitte and statistically lowest content was recorded in cultivar Semen&aacute;č. The content of TPC, AsA and AA beside the variety may be affected by many factors also climatic conditions and the agrochemical composition of the soil.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>