COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF EXTRACTS FROM SHEETS OF THE BLUEBERRY HIGH (VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM L.)

Abstract

The paper presents new data related to the qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic compounds in crop highbush blueberry leaf extracts, as well as to the antioxidant capacity of these extracts. Tall bilberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is a deciduous berry shrub that has become an extremely popular crop whose fruits contain a unique complex of biologically active substances – antioxidants, phytoestrogens and vitamins. As a rule, the leaves of this plant contain, in more or less degree, the same set of phenolic compounds. However, there is currently a lack of scientific information about the peculiarities of the chemical composition and properties of these plants grown in a specific region, which could be of interest for the development of an untapped source of food additives, functional products, nutraceuticals and ingredients for organic cosmetics. The objects of this study were water- and water-alcohol extracts obtained from highbush blueberry leaves of the varieties “Reka”, “Legacy”, “Bluecrop” and “Chantecler” as well as from the mixed sample of these varieties. For comparison, extracts of leaves of crop cowberry, crop cranberry and pharmacy cowberry ("PharmaCvet", 10118) and bearberry("PharmaCvet", 161117) were investigated. The electro-oxidative and antioxidant properties of all extracts were evaluated by using the methods of cyclic voltammetry and spectrophotometry based on a liquid phase reaction with a 2.2ꞌ-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical. The results of the studies showed that the leaves of highbush blueberry grown under conditions of ecological farming on the territory of Russia are very promising for use in prophylactic purposes.