Comparative study on phenolics and antioxidant property of some new and common bayberry cultivars in China

Fruits tend to possess different nutritional values among different cultivars of same family. Therefore, in this study, the composition and antioxidant activity of some new and common bayberry cultivars were evaluated. Significant amounts of phenolics (0.47 to 2.31 g gallic acid equivalents/kg), flavonoids (0.34 to 2.08 g rutin equivalents/kg) and procyanidins (0.24 to 1.99 g catechin equivalents/kg) were found in all tested bayberry varieties. Anthocyanin cyanidin-3-glucoside and flavonol myricetin was detected in almost all cultivars, however, cyanidin-3-glucoside was not detected in new cultivar Xishanbai. Antioxidant activity of bayberry was highly correlated with contents of phenolics, including flavonoids. However, no positive correlation was observed between cellular reactive oxygen species scavenging ability and bioactive compounds. The new cultivar Yingsi was found to have higher levels of nutritional components and potent antioxidant activity among all tested cultivars.