Wild fruits provide an important food resource for wildlife and the nutritional and biochemical composition of these fruits varies among plant species. The fruit phenol content is linked to antioxidant capacity, which can protect against oxidative stress, and the energy and fat content are indicators of nutritional quality. The goal of our study was to compare the nutritional composition, total phenol content, and antioxidant capacity among native and introduced species of fall-ripening fruits that are common in the western Finger Lakes Region of NY. Energy density and fat content were measured using bomb calorimetry and Soxhlet extraction, respectively, and total phenol content was measured using a microplate-adapted Folin assay. Our results suggest that native fruits are of higher nutritional value for wildlife like migrating songbirds that locally consume these fruits, while preliminary results do not show a clear difference in total phenol content.

Comparison of the nutritional and antioxidant properties of native and introduced fruits

245th National Meeting (2013)

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