Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate in vitro phenolic content and antioxidant activities of Crataegus meyeri (red color berry) and Crataegus pontica (yellow color berry) fruit components. The extracts were screened for total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as for antioxidant activities by determining 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitrite and H2O2 free radical scavenging; chain breaking speed and reducing ability assays. Crataegus meyeri pulp had higher phenolic and flavonoid contents. Mean percent DPPH value was higher for C. pontica pyrenes (95.46±0.09%) followed by that of C. meyeri (95.43±0.074%). The highest nitrite radical scavenging value was recorded in C. pontica flesh (161.40±1.668%) and the lowest one for its seeds (40.42±1.463%). In nearly all studied factors, the interspecies flesh comparison results were inversely proportional to those of their seeds. It can be concluded that C. meyeri and C. pontica may represent a relatively important alternative source for natural antioxidants.
Keywords: Antioxidants, crataegus meyeri, crataegus pontica, hawthorn, phenolics, fruit, antiradical, assessment, natural, seeds
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