Phytochemical characterization of aronia, elderberries, hascaps, and mulberries: New generation of super fruits

Aronia (Aronia mitchurinii), commonly known as the Black Chokeberry, is a fruiting bush native to the East Coast of the US and cultivated as a specialty food crop in Eastern Europe. Our previous research has shown that the content of phenolic antioxidants, including anthocyanins, polyphenols, and flavonoids in aronia juice is one of highest known for fruits, and much higher than for currently trended super-fruit acai berries. In addition, unlike assai berries, aronia can be grown widely in America from north Canada to the north part of Georgia, from coast to coast, and does not require tropical climate. Here we present the phytochemical characterization, cultural management study, ripening study, and food processing applications for this fruit in comparison with a group of super-fruits with similar content of anthocyanins – hascaps, elderberries, and mulberries. For each type of berries, antioxidant content determined by UV/Vis and LCMS methods, mineral content by ICP/MS, developing the antioxidants and soluble sugars over the ripening period, best processing practices preserving antioxidants, and examples of applications are presented.