COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BIOMETRICAL PARAMETERS AND BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN THE FRUITS ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA MILL.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the biometrical parameters, active compoud content, and antioxidant capacity of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. fruits of 9 genotypes, from seeds originating in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of Ukraine (Kyiv). The average weight of jujube fruit ranged from 3.99 to 12.61 g, length from 21.15 to 37.37 mm, and width from 16.87 to 27.26 mm. Dominant flavan-3-ols ((+)-catechin, procyanidin B2, and (–)-epicatechin) and flavonols (quercetin 3-O-rutinoside-7-O-pentoside, quercetin 3-O-robinobioside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside) were qualitatively and quantitatively identified by LC-MS and HPLC, respectively. The sum of three flavan-3-ols ranged from 9.45 to 35.85 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), while the sum of three flavonols was lower, and ranged from 7.33 to 15.56 mg/100 g FW. In addition, total phenolic content (TPC) measured by Folin-Ciocalteu at the ranged from 580.97 to 758.92 mg GAE/100 g FW was determined. Vitamin C level ranged from 212.71 to 626.50 mg/100 g FW, while total carotenoid level ranged from 182.29 to 346.34 µg/100 g FW. The results showed that all fruit extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activities, which generally correlated positively with the total phenolic content and vitamin C. These findings suggest that Ziziphus jujuba fruits could be a valuable source of flavonoids and vitamin C, supporting their potential use in the development of functional foods or nutraceuticals. The substantial variation in fruit size and weight among the studied genotypes highlights their morphological diversity and provides a basis for selecting high-yielding forms suitable for cultivation and breeding.