Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content of cherry stem (Cerasus avium L.) determined by LC-MS/MS

In this study, the antioxidant and antiradical properties of cherry stem (Cerasus avium L.) were examined. The ferric thiocyanate method, ferric ion (Fe3+) and cupric ion (Cu2+) reducing assays and ferrous ions (Fe3+) chelating assay were used in order to measure the antioxidant activity of the plant. Also, its antiradical activity was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Additionally, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the plant were determined. It was indicated that, both the water extract of cherry stem (WECS) and ethanol extract of cherry stem (EECS) have both antioxidant and antiradical properties, and there is a correlation between these properties and the phenolic and flavonoid contents. Quantities of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, α-tocopherol, pyrogallol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid and ascorbic acid were detected by high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This study will bring an innovation for further studies conducted on the antioxidant properties of WECS and EECS. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.