Total Antioxidant Capacity and Content of Phenolic Compounds in Wild Strawberries (Fragaria vesca) Collected in Bolivia

To study the composition of wild strawberries grown at high altitude,
total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds, total
flavonoids, and individual phenolic compounds were measured
in wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) collected between 2,650 and
3,300 m above sea level in Bolivia. Total antioxidant capacity, as
assessed by the ferric-reducing antioxidant power and 2,2¢-azinobis(
3-ethylbenzotiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) methods, was in the
range 16-39 mmol of Trolox equivalents/g fw by both methods. The
total phenolic content was 9.7–21 mmol gallic acid equivalents/g
fw, and the flavonoid content ranged between 2.8 and 4.9 mmol of
catechin equivalents/g fw. The data obtained by the four methods
showed several significant linear correlations confirming that flavonoids
and other phenolic compounds contributed significantly
to the total antioxidant capacity values. Reversed-phase high
performance liquid chromatography analysis of extracts subjected
to acid hydrolysis showed the presence of seven major fractions,
tentatively identified as ellagic acid, cyanidin, pelargonidin, quercetin,
kaempferol, gallic acid derivatives, and catechin derivatives.
The data indicated that wild strawberries have a somewhat
higher total antioxidant capacity content in comparison with that
reported for cultivated strawberries. No obvious difference to the composition reported for wild strawberries grown at low altitude
could be found.