Antioxidant Activity and Its Correlation with Phenol and Anthocyanin Contents in Some Grape Cultivars Grown in Fars Province

Grape, having considerable sources of phenolic substances, such as anthocyanin and flonoids, is an important fruit. On the other hand, the amount of these substances and antioxidant activity in fruits of grape cultivars varies in different growing conditions. Antioxidants are the first line of body defense against free radicals and are critical for human health. To determine antioxidant activity, phenol content, anthocyanin, brix, pH and some morphological characteristics (berry fresh weight, number of seeds and berry skin weight) of 12 grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars grown in Fars Province, Iran, including Samarghandi, Yaghuti, Rishbaba and Rajabi (Zarghan region), Asali, Siah Shiraz, Rishbaba and Askari (Maymand region) and Keshmeshi Bavanat, Askari, Siah Shiraz and Rishbaba (Saadatshahr) an experiment was designed and carried out in College of Agriculture, Shiraz University in 2009. The results showed that Siah Shiraz (from Maymand and Saadatshahr) had the highest antioxidant activity (75.42 and 70.24%, respectively). Siah Shiraz cultivar (in Maymand) had the greatest amount of phenol (174.33 mg/kg) and anthocyanin (498.74 mg/kg) and Rishbaba and Askari (from Saadatshahr) and Asali (from Maymand) had the lowest antioxidant activity (15.09, 16.68 and 19.56%, respectively). The lowest amount of phenol (29.56 mg/kg) was observed in Rishbaba berries (Saadatshahr region). Keshmeshi cultivar (from Saadatshahr) had the lowest amount of anthocyanin (14.94 mg/kg). Also, A high correlation existed between antioxidant activity and anthocyanin (r2 = 0.68) as well as phenol (r2 = 0.49). Based on the results of this research, it was concluded that colored grapes, such as Siah Shiraz, have a lot of antioxidant activity and other than environmental conditions, the genotype is also effective in the amount of these substances.