PHENOLICS COMPOUNDS IN FRUITS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BERRIES AND THEIR BENEFICENT FOR HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

Тhе cultivated berry species are considered to be economically important freshly consumed fruits, and the production volumes are rapidly increasing worldwide during recent years. Among the colorful fruits, berries such as blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), red and black currants (Ribes spp) and strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) are popularly used in the human diet either fresh or in processed forms. The berry fruits have gained significant attention by consumers due to a high content of health promoting compounds based on considerable quantities of different phytochemicals. Polyphenols comprise a wide variety of compounds, divided into several classes like hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols, flavones, flavanols, flavanones, isoflavones, stilbenes, and lignans that occur in berry fruits. The anthocyanins have a wide range of bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. The antimicrobial effects of berry extracts against gram-negative bacteria decreased in the following order: raspberry> strawberry> blueberry> currant.  Among fruits, strawberries are one of the richest sources of natural folate, also, manganese, iodine, magnesium, copper, iron, and phosphorus. Raspberry and its isolated compounds like lutein, vecetin, quercetin, and rutin play an important role for development of normal vision in human beings. Blueberry is especially rich in phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, tannins and flavonols. Health benefits of currants berry are associated with chronical noncommunicable diseases,neuroprotective and anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, chemoprotective, antimicrobial, antifungal activity as well as the properties improve cognitive behavior reduced risks of cancer, heart disease and stroke. The phenolic compounds found in berries are natural gifts for human health.