A critical review of methods for characterisation of polyphenolic compounds in fruits and vegetables

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 126; no. 4; pp. 1821 - 1835
• Main Authors: Ignat, Ioana, Volf, Irina, Popa, Valentin I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.06.2011; [Amsterdam]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: analytical methods; antioxidant activity; antiviral properties; bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; Characterisation; equipment performance; Extraction; food analysis; food composition; Food engineering; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; fruits; fruits (food); Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; literature reviews; Natural sources; Polyphenols; Purification; quantitative analysis; secondary metabolites; vegetables; Polyphenols; Extraction; Purification; Characterisation; Natural sources; Polyphenol; Review; Fruit vegetable; Method; Natural
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.12.026

► Natural sources of phenolic compounds. ► Detailed classification of polyphenols. ► Extraction methods for phenolic compounds. ► Methods for quantification and separation of polyphenols (spectrophotometric methods and chromatographic techniques). ► Spectral methods used in structure elucidation and characterisation of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds, ubiquitous in plants, are of considerable interest and have received more and more attention in recent years due to their bioactive functions. Polyphenols are amongst the most desirable phytochemicals due to their antioxidant activity. These components are known as secondary plant metabolites and possess also antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties along with their high antioxidant capacity. Many efforts have been made to provide a highly sensitive and selective analytical method for the determination and characterisation of polyphenols. The aim of this paper is to provide information on the most recent developments in the chemical investigation of polyphenols emphasising the extraction, separation and analysis of these compounds by chromatographic and spectral techniques.