Caratterizzazione chimica e valutazione dell'attività antiossidante di sette varietà di Annona cherimola

Annona cherimola Mill (cherimoya) is a fruit crop diffused in tropical and subtropical Countries. Several studies have demonstrated that cherimoya fruit is an interesting source of bioactive compounds, including alkaloids and polyphenols. On the other hand, this fruit, along with other parts of the plant, has been used in traditional medicine against multiple human diseases including cancer. In this study, we explored the nutraceutical value of cherimoya leaves with the aim to evaluate the possibility to use them as an alternative source of cherimoya bioactive compounds. Spectrophotometric assays (Folin-Ciocalteu and DMAC) combined to HPLC-MS analysis were employed for the chemical characterization of leaves from 7 cultivar of cherimoya (Campas, Chaffey, Daniela, Fino de Jete, Torre1, Torre2, and White). In addition, ABTS, DPPH and FRAP were employed to evaluate the radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of the hydrophilic leaf extracts.