The main phenolic compounds responsible for the antioxidant capacity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) pulp

The antioxidant capacity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) pulp extracts is strictly related to the phenolic content, starting from the fact that the higher content of phenolic compounds corresponds to the higher antioxidant indexes. This work aims to assess which compounds characterized three cultivars, namely Ferrovia, Sweetheart, and Lapins grown in Southern Italy and mainly influenced the antioxidant capacity of their extracts. HPLC–MS/MS analyses were conducted to identify and quantify 17 flavonoids and 25 hydroxicinnamates derivatives. A significant influence of cultivar was revealed from one-way MANOVA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the extracts were tested for their radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) and reducing power using the Folin–Ciocalteau method. Lapins and Sweetheart extracts, richer in phenolic compounds, returned the highest reducing power and radical scavenging capacity. Finally, a Factorial Analysis was applied to the collected data allowing reliable correlations between phenolics and antioxidant indexes.