Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts
Rowanberry fruits (Sorbus L.) are well known for their nutritional and medicinal properties, some of which are directly related to their high content of organic acids. The antioxidant activity of rowan fruits is associated with phenolic carboxylic acids, while the biological value of their lipid complex is determined by the presence of essential ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. An extraction-chromatographic method was developed to separate the higher carboxylic and phenolic acids in plant raw material. This method allows complete separation of these two classes of organic acids during the analytical cycle. The acids identification and quantification are performed using gas chromatography with a mass-selective or flame-ionization detector (GC-MS/FID). The method was tested on the fruits of Sorbus various species and cultivars, which are widely represented in the scientific collection of the Botanical Garden of the Institute of Biology at the Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Using GC-MS, 18 fatty acids and 7 phenolic acids were identified in the extracts of rowan fruits. A comparative assessment of the antioxidant activity of extracts from rowan fruits of different species and cultivars was carried out. We identify samples (S. aucuparia subsp. pohuashanensis) that combine high content of ferulic and caffeic acids with pronounced antioxidant activity. The developed method for determining organic acids in plant raw material can be recommended for supporting the breeding process and targeted selection of plants for phytopharmaceuticals and dietary supplements production.
ISSN 1995-4301
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