Nutritional and Phytochemical Composition of Vaccinium padifolium Sm Wild Berries and Radical Scavenging Activity

Blueberries have a well-deserved reputation as a potential functional food, supported by studies which have identified and quantified various nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals with known benefits for human diet and health. Wild blueberries have attracted particular attention due to the levels and concentrations of those phytonutrients. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition of Madeira Island's endemic Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berry. Results show that this fruit contains high values of total soluble phenolic content (around 4 g GAE kg^-1 FW), as well as significant values of total monomeric anthocyanin content (around 3 g eq. cyanidin kg^-1 FW) and DPPH scavenging activity (around 86.72%). Additionally, results reveal that this fruit has water content of about 88% as well as low sugar content (17.98 and 29.73 g kg^-1 for glucose and fructose, respectively). Results also confirm that this wild blueberry is a good source of dietary fiber, fat and minerals. The high level of terpenoid compounds stands out in the aroma profile analysis.

This study is in line with the efforts of the scientific community to identify new sources of phytonutrients that are beneficial to human health, characterizing the wild Madeira blueberry in terms of phytonutrients that suggest there may be health benefits associated with its consumption. The findings of this research are very important for both the commercial and agricultural sectors that produce this fruit, and for consumers who seek phytonutrient-rich foods.