Phenolic Profiling of 12 Strawberry Cultivars Using Different Spectroscopic Methods

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Plant Biochemistry

Background:

• Strawberries are rich in phenolic compounds, contributing to their health benefits.
• Understanding the phenolic profile of different cultivars is crucial for selecting those with optimal health functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile phenolic compounds in 12 strawberry cultivars.
• To identify cultivars with the highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity.
• To correlate phenolic content with overall antioxidant activity.

Main Methods:

• Spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, and HPLC-MS were used for phenolic profiling.
• Multivariate regression analysis and principal component analysis were employed.
• Multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares analyzed fluorophores.

Main Results:

• Total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TACY), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated.
• TAC strongly correlated with TPC (0.81), highlighting TPC's role in antioxidant activity.
• 'Joly', 'Laetitia', and 'Asia' cultivars showed the highest levels of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.

Conclusions:

• The 'Joly', 'Laetitia', and 'Asia' strawberry cultivars are rich in beneficial phenolic compounds.
• These cultivars exhibit high antioxidant capacity, making them suitable for health-focused consumption.
• Phenolic profiling provides valuable insights for selecting strawberries with enhanced health benefits.