Qualitative and quantitative composition variability of phenolic compounds in fruits and leaves of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott)

The aim of the research. To determine the variation of qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds of fruits and leaves of black chokeberry growing in Lithuania and evaluate the antioxidant activity in vitro of their extracts. The objectives of the research. To investigate the variation of total phenolic compounds in samples of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott) growing in different areas of Lithuania using spectrophotometric method. To examine the variation of the total amount of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in samples of black chokeberry fruits and leaves using the spectrophotometric method. To determine the quantitative composition of the anthocyanins of black chokeberry using the spectrophotometric method. To determine the antioxidative activity of the extracts of black chokeberry fruits and leaves by using the spectrophotometric method. To investigate qualitative and quantitative composition of phenolic compounds of black chokeberry fruits and leaves using the HPLC method. The object and methods of the research. Samples of fruits and leaves of black chokeberry, growing in the Lithuanian climate, collected from 10 different areas was examined. Total amount of phenolic compounds, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity in in vitro samples were examined by UV/VIS spectrophotometric analysis method. Phenolic compound analysis was performed using the HPLC method. The results and conclusions of the research. The highest amount of total phenolic compounds and total hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives was determined in the collected fruits samples in Eriškės (Panevėžys distr.) (47.89±1.36 mg GRE/g, 21.9±0.95 mg CRE/g) (p <0.05) respectively. The highest total amount of anthocyanin was found in the fruit samples of Paįstrys (Panevėžys distr.) (6.67±0.95 mg CGE/g) (p<0.05). The highest amount of phenolic compounds in the samples of black chokeberry leaves were found in Kuliai (Klaipėda distr.) (99, 01±4.72 mg GRE/g), Birikiai (Telšiai distr.) (95.8 ±4.69 mg GRE/g), and in Sudervė (Vilnius distr.) (92.74±3.21 mg GRE/g) (p <0.05). The highest amount of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were found in the black chokeberry leaf samples collected in Staniūnai (Panevėžys distr.) (37.64±0.61 mg CRE/g), and Kuliai (Klaipėda distr.) (34.35±1.22 mg CRE/g) (p<0.05). The strongest antioxidant activity was found in fruit samples in Šepeta (Kupiškis distr.) (617.43±25.56 μmol TE/g), and leaf samples collected in Birikiai village (Telšiai distr.) (1388±32.23 μmol TE/g) (p