Phytochemical characterisation of highbush blueberry (vaccinium × covilleanum) and European cranberry bush (viburnum opulus) accessions grown in Lithuania

Abstract

Growing interest in natural food ingredients exhibiting beneficial effects on human health has been an important factor for expanding the studies of less common horticultural plants in recent years. It is well established that berries accumulate high amounts of bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenolic antioxidants; however, some species remain under investigated. This study presents preliminary phytochemical characterization of different anatomical parts of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium × covilleanum) and European cranberry bush (Viburnum opulus), the species domesticated in Lithuania and being investigated in order to assess the possibilities of their commercial cultivation. In total 13 cultivars of highbush blueberry and 7 cultivars of European cranberry were studied. Antioxidant potential of extracts isolated from different plant parts by various solvents was assessed by using in vitro radical scavenging assays and in situ antioxidant capacity determination methods. Phytochemical composition was screened by using LC/MS and GC/MS methods. The variations in the concentration of various constituents such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, glycosides, volatile and unidentified compounds between studied cultivars were determined and assessed by using PCA.