Assessment of biologically active compounds, organic acids and antioxidant activity in needle extracts of different Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) half-sib families

The differences of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), photosynthetic pigment, organic acids and antioxidant activity in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) needle extracts were determined to compare different half-sib spruce families’ chemical backgrounds and the abilities to synthesize biologically active compounds and antioxidant activity for potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical use. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that the highest TPC was found in needle extracts of half-sib family 599 (38.7 mg g−1). The needle extracts of family 548 had the highest TFC (797.7 mg g−1). The highest concentration of chlorophyll a (chl a), chlorophyll b (chl b) and carotenoids was determined in the needle extracts of Norway spruce families 541 (0.651 mg g−1, 0.386 mg g−1 and 0.235 mg g−1, respectively) and 463 (0.655 mg g−1, 0.383 mg g−1 and 0.227 mg g−1, respectively). Using HPLC analysis, the highest concentrations of vitamin C and folic acid were determined in needle extracts of family 541 (16.93 mg g−1 and 0.02 mg g−1, respectively), the highest concentrations of malic and succinic acids were found in 463 (0.95 mg g−1 and 3.09 mg g−1, respectively), the highest concentration of oxalic acid was identified in needle extracts of family 599 (0.50 mg g−1), and the highest concentration of citric acid was found in needle extracts of family 577 (0.68 mg g−1).