Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of native Ecuadorian fruits: Rubus glabratus Kunth, Vaccinium floribundum Kunth, and Opuntia soederstromiana
Raúl D. Monge-Sevilla,
Lenys Fernández,
Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero,
Carlos Méndez-Durazno,
Pablo A. Cisneros-Pérez,
David Romero-Estévez,
Diego Bolaños-Méndez,
Jocelyne Alvarez-Paguay,
Mónica Jadán
Affiliations
Raúl D. Monge-Sevilla
Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito, 170525, Ecuador; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador Av. Universitaria, Quito, 170129, Ecuador
Lenys Fernández
Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito, 170525, Ecuador; Corresponding author.
Patricio J. Espinoza-Montero
Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito, 170525, Ecuador; Corresponding author.
Carlos Méndez-Durazno
Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito, 170525, Ecuador; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador Av. Universitaria, Quito, 170129, Ecuador
Pablo A. Cisneros-Pérez
School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Yachay Tech University, Urcuquí, 100650, Ecuador
David Romero-Estévez
Centro de Estudios Aplicados en Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre y Roca, PO-Box:17 01 21 84, Quito, Ecuador
Diego Bolaños-Méndez
Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito, 170525, Ecuador
Jocelyne Alvarez-Paguay
Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Vicente Ramón Roca, Quito, 170525, Ecuador
Mónica Jadán
Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui, Sangolquí, Ecuador, P.O.BOX 171-5-231B, Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida y Agricultura, 3989400 ext 2122
The native berries of South America present promising marketing opportunities owing to their high antioxidant content, notably rich in anthocyanin and phenolic compounds. However, Ecuador's endemic fruits, primarily found in the wild, lack comprehensive data regarding their phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity, underscoring the need for research in this area. Accordingly, this study evaluated the total phenolic, anthocyanin, flavonoid, resveratrol, ascorbic acid, citric acid, sugars, and antioxidant content of three native Ecuadorian fruits: mora de monte (Rubus glabratus Kunth), mortiño (Vaccinium floribundum Kunth), and tuna de monte (Opuntia soederstromiana). Determination of resveratrol, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and sugars was determined by HPLC analysis, and UPLC analysis was used to determine tentative metabolites with nutraceutical properties. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using cyclic voltammetry and the DPPH method; differential pulse voltammetry was used to evaluate antioxidant power. Analysis of results through UPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry indicated that R. glabratus Kunth and V. floribundum Kunth are important sources of various compounds with potential health-promoting functions in the body. The DPPH results showed the following antioxidant capacities for the three fruits: R. glabratus Kunth > O. soederstromiana > V. floribundum Kunth; this trend was consistent with the antioxidant capacity results determined using the electrochemical methods.