TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AS A QUALITATIVE PARAMETER OF CHERRIES AND TINY FRUIT GROWN UNDER THE INTEGRATED PROTECTION OR ECOLOGICAL MODEEVALUATED BY FIA/ECD METHOD

Importance of the Topic

Antioxidants play a vital role in human health by neutralizing free radicals, with plant polyphenols being key contributors. Assessing total antioxidant activity in fruits provides an objective measure of their nutritional and biological value.

Objectives and Overview

This study aims to compare the antioxidant capacity of various cherry, currant, and gooseberry cultivars. It also investigates how cultivation methods—ecological (ECO) versus integrated protection (IPM)—affect total antioxidant activity.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Technique: Flow Injection Analysis (FIA) coupled with CoulArray multichannel electrochemical detection.
• Procedure: Fruit extracts injected; electroactive compounds quantified via the charge (µC) collected at graphite electrodes set at 200, 400, 600, and 800 mV.
• Screening Speed: Complete analysis per sample in approximately 66 seconds, enabling rapid comparison across multiple cultivars.

Applied Instrumentation

• CoulArray multichannel electrochemical detector.
• Flow Injection Analysis system for sample introduction.

Main Results and Discussion

• Blackcurrants exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity, with the OMETA variety leading among blackcurrants.
• Redcurrants followed, with JOHNLEER VAN TETS showing the top performance, while cherries reached their peak in the SKEENA variety.
• White gooseberries, particularly the MUCURINES variety, showed the lowest antioxidant levels.
• Dark-colored fruit genotypes consistently displayed higher antioxidant capacity than lighter-colored ones.
• Comparing cultivation modes, cherries and gooseberries grown under ecological conditions (ECO) had higher antioxidant activity than those under integrated protection (IPM).

Benefits and Practical Applications

• The FIA/ECD approach provides a fast, cost-effective screening tool for breeding programs and quality control in the fruit industry.
• Data on antioxidant profiles can guide cultivar selection to maximize nutritional value.
• Insights into the impact of cultivation practices support decision-making for sustainable agriculture.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

• Integration with complementary detection techniques (e.g., spectroscopic methods) for comprehensive phytochemical profiling.
• Implementation of high-throughput automated platforms for large-scale screening of plant materials.
• Application to a broader range of fruits, vegetables, and food products to map antioxidant landscapes.
• Development of digital databases and chemometric tools for predictive modeling of nutritional quality.

Conclusion

FIA coupled with multichannel electrochemical detection offers a sensitive, rapid, and economical method for quantifying total antioxidant activity in fruit. The findings highlight significant varietal differences and demonstrate that ecological cultivation can enhance antioxidant profiles, supporting efforts in breeding, quality assurance, and sustainable agriculture.