Study of the Content of Antioxidant Substances in Fruit and Vegetable Raw Materials of the Samara Region

Fruit, berry and vegetable raw materials are an irreplaceable item in human nutrition. At this stage in the development of world breeding, not only the organoleptic characteristics of plants, but also their chemical composition, come to the fore. In connection with the growing interest in the effect of antioxidants on human health, breeders are increasingly turning their attention to the study of their comparative content in fruit, berry and vegetable raw materials. The results of a study of the influence of the grade of plant raw materials on the accumulation of substances exhibiting antioxidant activity (phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids) are presented. Popular vegetables and fruits cultivated and growing wild in the Samara region were selected as objects of research. The aim of the study is to obtain new information on the influence of such factors as the type and variety of fruit, berry and vegetable raw materials on substances with antioxidant activity (phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids). In the extracts of the analyzed samples, the total content of phenolic substances was determined by the method using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, flavonoids by the method based on the formation of a flavonoid-aluminum complex. The carotene content was determined according to GOST 8756.22-80 using acetone and hexane as extractants. The results of the study showed that the type and variety of plant raw materials are factors that directly affect the accumulation of the studied substances. To a greater extent, the results obtained relate to varieties of sweet peppers, fresh food pumpkin, rose hips. Significant variation in carotene content was recorded in pumpkin samples: from 1.20 to 4.90 mg%. Among the objects of research, it is recommended to use the fruits of the wild rose as a source of phenolic substances and carotenoids for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The work was carried out within the framework of the state assignment for fundamental research of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Samara State Technical University» No. 0778-2020-0005.