Polyphenolic profile of the fruits grown in Serbia

Abstract

Polyphenolic compounds are known bioactive phytochemicals widely found in all plants as secondary metabolites. Many scientific papers have shown that they are very good markers for the assessment of botanical and geographical origin of several types of food. Thanks to favorable geographical and climatic conditions, Serbia has a very good prerequisite for the cultivation of various fruits. Well-favored soil characteristics, sunlight, and moisture significantly contribute to the accumulation of a lot of phytochemicals in ripe fruit, so the taste is fuller and aromatic, making the consumption of fruit in fresh forms most effective. Among others, Serbia has a long tradition in the production of grapes, plums, apples, pears, and various berries. Fruits growing in Serbia are very important products for both local and world markets. This paper gives an overview of methods most frequently used for extraction and identification of fruit polyphenolics. It includes a review of the literature describing the characterization of the polyphenolic profile of different fruits grown in Serbia. In addition, for certain types of fruits, the chemical analysis of the leaves of studied fruits was provided. © 2018 American Chemical Society.