Evaluation of antioxidant activity, total phenolics and phytochemical content of selected varieties of karonda fruits (Carissa carandas)

Karonda (Carissa carandas L.) is a hardy, drought tolerant, low maintenance shrub, whose berries under-utilized but have potential to be promoted in the wastelands of India, and thus be of succour to farmers. The fruits are astringent due to high pectin content and therefore popular only as preserves. In this study the total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents and their individual components in three promising table collections of karonda: variety Konkan Bold, and promising collections CHES K-II/7 and CHES K-V/8 compared, and correlated with the antioxidant activity as determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and Ferric reducing antioxidant potential. The results indicated that these karonda collections are moderately good sources of phenols, flavonols and anthocyanins, the amounts of phenols and flavonoids correlated positively with the antioxidant activity. The phytochemical profile of individual components of the phenolic acids, revealed high concentrations of vanillic, protocatechuic, t-cinnamic, ferulic, chlorogenic, 2,4-dihydroxy benzoic, syringic and salicylic acids; flavonoids rutin, myricetin and umbelliferone; and glucosides of the anthocyanins cyanidin and pelargonidin. Further, CHES K-V/8 and CHES K-II/7 in addition to having favourable horticultural traits was superior to Konkan Bold, and may be recommended for release as varieties with health promoting polyphenols and antioxidant activity.