Analysis of Polyphenols Composition and Antioxidant Activity Assessment of Chinese Dwarf Cherry (Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.)

Abstract

The fruits of Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.), which is unique to China, can be canned and used to make products such as jam and wine. They also contain abundant bioactive compounds, including cinnamoylquinic acids and flavonoids. However, there has been no systematic study on the functional compounds in these fruits. In this study, the polyphenol compounds of 28 different genotypes of Chinese dwarf cherry in Liaoning province were systematically characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and HPLC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A total of 31 polyphenols, including 6 anthocyanins, 7 cinnamoylquinic acids, 1 flavone, and 17 flavonols, were identified, and 23 of these compounds were detected in Chinese dwarf cherry for the first time. In addition, 4 genotypes showed higher total polyphenol content and antioxidant activities. It may be advantageous to use these 4 genotypes for commercial processing of Chinese dwarf cherry fruits into healthcare products. The results of this study will improve understanding of the chemical mechanism of polyphenols formation and lay the foundation for selective functional composition breeding in Chinese dwarf cherry.