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Abstract
The chemical composition and antioxidant activity of juice extracted from seven samples of bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) collected in different areas of Reggio Calabria Province were investigated. The ascorbic acid, total polyphenol, and flavonoid contents were determined. Total flavonoids and polyphenols were analyzed by ultraviolet spectra, while flavanone content was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity of the fractions was assessed using three representative assays: 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonic acid), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical quenching and β-carotene bleaching test. The main flavanones were naringin, neohesperedin, and neoeriocitrin, and their average content 242.4 ± 1.8, 183.0 ± 0.6, and 247.0 ± 1.4 mg mL–1, respectively. The results showed that bergamot juice possessed a good quality and a valuable source of health promoting constituents. In fact it contained eriocitrin, naringin, neoeriocitrin, and neohesperedin, which may contribute differentially to the antioxidant capacity.