Efforts have been spent in order to identify plants with antioxidant levels that provide health benefits. The antioxidant capacity of peach is due to phenolic compounds, vitamin C and carotenoids. This study aimed to characterize four peach cultivars (Aurora, Biuti, Diamante and Douradão), in relation to the antioxidant capacity, determining the content of antioxidant compounds related to this activity. The fruits were separated into two groups: not stored and stored for five days at room temperature. The contents of vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity were determined by DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. All the cultivars proved to be rich in antioxidant substances; however, the intensity of this action was different among them. Cultivar Biuti presented highest levels of the analyzed substances and higher antioxidant activity compared to other cultivars. It was possible to observe that the antioxidant potential of peach fruits increased during the storage period.
Prunus persica; phenolic compounds; vitamin C; carotenoids
