Phenolic Characterization of Sicilian Yellow Flesh Peach (Prunus persicaL.) Cultivars at Different Ripening Stages

Abstract

Yellow flesh peaches (Prunus persica L.) from different Sicilian areas (Leonforte, Riesi and Maniace) were investigated for the first time for their polyphenolic composition, with consideration of both peel and flesh tissues. The qualitative and quantitative polyphenolic evaluation was determined at two different maturity stages (commercial and postharvest ripening) via chromatographic separation by using reverse‐phase HPLC‐PDA‐ESI/MS 2. This technique provides a comprehensive chromatographic evaluation of 10 compounds (hydroxycinnamates and flavonols), differently distributed in the analyzed tissues. Overall, the hydroxycinnamates were present in both pulp and peel, while flavonols resulted exclusively located in the peel. Peels were found to be richest in polyphenolics with respect to the pulps, containing up to 276 mg/kg fresh weight in Riesi commercial‐ripe peaches. Generally, the peach tissues from commercial‐ripe fruits showed higher phenolics contents than postharvest‐ripe fruits. Practical Applications It is well documented that the benefits due to the consumption of fruit can be largely attributed to the elevated content of phenolic compounds. High levels of phenolic compounds in fruits are of high importance to maintain the quality of fruits and provide consumers the health benefits of fruit consumption. Thus, the assessment of the distribution of phenolic compounds in various parts of the peach fruit and any variations due at the time of collection are considered interesting from a scientific point of view. The characterization of peach phenolics could represent a useful tool in the area of food authenticity protection since some compounds could represent specific quality markers. Moreover, a study on phenolics quantification at different ripening stages could provide useful information for assessing the fruit harvest timing in order to ensure the best fruit quality.

Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Pulp and Peel from Peach and Nectarine Fruits

“…The contents of kaempferol-3-rutinoside were in the range of 2.8 to 15.0 mg kg -1 f.w. Scordino et al (2012) gave similar values (3.7-12 mg kg -1 f.w.). Previous studies have only shown quercetin derivatives (Tomas-Barberan et al, 2001;Cantin et al, 2009;Orazem et al, 2011).…”

“…CevallosCasals et al (2006) also reported that contents of phenolic compounds vary within different tissues of the same fruits and are mostly concentrated in the epidermal and subepidermal layers of the fruits. Higher concentrations of TF compounds in peach peel compared to the pulp were also reported by other researchers (Tomas-Barberan et al, 2001;Scordino et al, 2012). The effect of acidified solvents on the extraction of the peach phenolics was evaluated using aqueous HCl in 80% acetone as the solvent.…”

“…Present analysis of peach revealed the presence of quercetin derivatives and kaempferol-rutinoside. Scordino et al (2012) have shown the occurrence of quercetin kaempferol and isorhamnetin flavonols in peach. Sicilian peaches contain kaempferol-3-rutinoside in the range 6.8-10.6 mg kg -1 f.w.…”

“…In our results, 'Radmilovčanka' contained the highest content of flavonol determined among investigated peach cultivars followed by 'June Gold', 'Adria', 'Vesna', 'Blake', 'Hale' and 'Fantasia'. Scordino et al (2012) determined six peach flavonols:…”

A Review on Peach (Prunus persica): An Asset of Medicinal Phytochemicals

“…It is commonly known as "Aaru" and in English popularly called "Peach" has been extensively consumed worldwide.Peach has an important place in human nutrition, and can be used as fresh, dried or processed fruit.Peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) are nutritionally and economically essential and they are one of the most popular fruits consumed worldwide [21], [47]. Different phenolic compounds have been recognized in peach fruits [29], [55] Table III Some economically important species of subfamily amygyloideae (2) . It is deciduous tree up to 10m in height [16] or evergreen trees and shrubs naturally distributed throughout temperate regions, originally from Asia or Southern Europe [16], [22].Generally, its bark is grayish or ashy acuminate glabrous [16], [18].…”