Phytochemical profiles of wild blackberries, black and white mulberries from southern Bulgaria

Sugars (glucose and fructose), organic acids (citric acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, succinic acid and fumaric acid), vitamin C, phenolic compounds (catechin, rutin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, o-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid and gallic acid) and antioxidant capacity (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, TEAC assay) were determined in fruits of wild blackberry, black and white mulberries from southern Bulgaria. Malic acid was the predominant organic acid for the black and white mulberries. Citric and malic acids were represented with the highest content in blackberries. The highest fructose concentration was observed in blackberries (16.187 g.100 g(-1)). Black mulberries showed the highest antioxidant activity (12.230 mu mol TE g(-1)), followed by white mulberries (8.6133 mu mol TE g(-1)) and blackberries (4.490 mu mol TE g(-1)). Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the main phenolics in the analysed fruits. The results illustrated significant phytochemical profiles of the studied berries, which could contribute to the medicinal industry and provide valuable genetic resources for breeding programmes.