Phenol Content and Antioxidant Activity of Different Blueberry Species from Prozor Region

Blueberries are considered as functional foods due to their high content of bioactive compounds. This study was undertaken to investigate total phenol content, total anthocyanins and antioxidant activities of wild bilberry and two highbush blueberry cultivars Bluecrop and Goldtraube from Bosnia and Hercegovina. Extracts were investigated for their antioxidant properties using ABTS radical scavenging capacity assay and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay. Total phenolic content was determined by spectrophotometric method using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Results indicated highest phenolic content (280,55 ± 7,22 mg GA/100 g FW) in wild bilberry. Wild bilberry showed the highest antioxidant activity regardless of the method used. Content of total anthocyanins detected in wild bilberries (178,7 ± 0,46 mg cyaniding-3-glycoside)/100 g FW) was higher than in highbush blueberry cultivars investigated. Significant relationship between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content indicates that the phenolic compounds are the major contributors to the antioxidant properties of these fruits.