Valorisation of Raspberry Seeds in Cosmetic Industry-Green Solutions.

The fruit processing industry generates large quantities of by-products well known to be rich in bioactive compounds with numerous nutritional properties and beneficial effects for human health. We developed a strategy to valorise raspberry seeds and obtain valuable ingredients with potential application in cosmetic skincare formulas. Cold press extraction technology was applied to extract oil, and the remaining defatted raspberry seed cake was treated with three proline based deep eutectic solvents (DES) to extract polyphenols. The most potent was proline/citric acid extract, with free and total ellagic acid content (52.4 mg/L and 86.4 mg/L), total phenolic content (TPC, 550.1 mg GAE/L) and radical scavenging activity (RSA, 4742.7 mmol TE/L). After the direct mixing of the extract and after encapsulation with starch as a carrier, the skincare emulsion and microemulsion were characterised by irritation potential (Zein test), transepidermal water loss (TEWL), red blood cell (RBC), and DPPH antioxidant test. The resulting preparations were of improved quality in comparison to the control hand cream, with a low skin irritation effect, lower TEWL, and higher antioxidant potential. This work complies with circular economy principles and green technology standards, and represents the efficient model on how to reuse natural resources through waste minimization.

Profiling of Metabolites in Organically Grown Plums from Norway: Does Location or Cultivar Matter?

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of two locations and seven cultivars on the profiling of metabolites in organically grown plums (Prunus domestica L.) fruit in Norway. P, K, and Ca were most abundant in the studied fruits, while Ba and Sr formed a clear line between the locations. The most abundant sugars were glucose, fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol, which together accounted for up to 97.00%. Quinic acid and malic acid were the predominant organic acids, while chlorogenic acid, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the most abundant polyphenols. Plums from Ullensvang were characterized by a higher content of minerals, sugars, organic acids, total polyphenol content (TPC), and radical scavenging activity (RSA), while plums from Telemark had a higher content of quantified polyphenols. The cultivar 'Mallard' had the highest mineral and radical scavenging activity, 'Opal' had the sweetest fruit, 'Jubileum' had the highest acidity, 'Excalibur' had the highest TPC content, and 'Valor' stored the highest content of quantified polyphenols, especially chlorogenic acid. These results provide comprehensive information on the chemical profiles of selected plum cultivars, suggesting that organic plums are a rich source of beneficial compounds that can have a positive impact on human health.

Fruit Quality Attributes of Organically Grown Norwegian Apples Are Affected by Cultivar and Location.

In this work, 12 apple cultivars grown organically in three regions of Norway (Telemark, Ullensvang, Viken) were analyzed in terms of fruit quality, with the aim of equating different growing regions under specific climatic conditions. Apples were analyzed for concentration levels of minerals, sugars, sugar alcohols, organic acids, total phenolic content (TPC), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and phenolic profiles. Discovery "Rose" from Telemark stored the highest level of minerals (24,094.5 mg/kg dry weight). Glucose, fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol were the major carbohydrates, whereas the predominant organic acids were quinic acid and malic acid. Cultivar Discovery from Ullensvang had the highest TPC (9.22 g/kg) and RSA (229.32 mmol TE/kg). Of the polyphenols quantified, chlorogenic acid and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the most abounded, accounting for 85.50%. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows that the Ullensvang region is the richest source of most carbohydrates, organic acids (quinic, shikimic, and galacturonic), and most polyphenols, whereas the highest content of minerals and maleic acid characterized Viken. Regardless of location, the Discovery cultivar had, on average, the highest sugar and polyphenol contents. The results obtained suggest that organic apples from Norway are a rich source of beneficial compounds that can have a positive impact on human health. In addition, these results may be useful for consumers in identifying apple cultivars with desirable characteristics and for the fruit industry in tracing back the origin of apples. The findings could also be of great interest for locations with similar climate and soil conditions worldwide.

Authenticity assessment of cultivated berries via phenolic profiles of seeds.

Considering the health-benefits of berry fruits consumption and increased market demands for food authenticity as one of the most important quality assurances, phenolic profiling by high-performance thin layer chromatography and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with mass spectrometry was combined with multivariate analysis for phytochemical characterization and intercultivar discrimination of cultivated berry seeds. The phenolic profiles of 45 berry seeds from nine genuine Serbian cultivated fruit species (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black currant, blueberry, gooseberry, cape gooseberry, chokeberry, and goji berry) revealed a good differentiation according to botanical origin. In order to determine biomarkers responsible for the classification, a total of 103 phenolic compounds were identified, including 53 phenolic acids and their derivatives, 26 flavonoids and 24 glycosides. Biomarkers derived from the phenolic profile of berry seeds proved to be a powerful tool in the authentication of botanical origin, and may be useful in detection of frauds in berry-based seed-containing product.

Primary Metabolite Chromatographic Profiling as a Tool for Chemotaxonomic Classification of Seeds from Berry Fruits.

Research background: Considering the importance of consumption of berry fruits with proven health-beneficial properties and difficulties in quality control of products of specific botanical and geographic origin, a fingerprint method was developed, based on advanced data analysis (pattern recognition, classification), in order to relate the variability of nutrients in the selected cultivars to primary metabolite profile. Experimental approach: Forty-five samples of genuine berry fruit cultivars (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black currant, blueberry, gooseberry, chokeberry, cape gooseberry and goji berry) were characterized according to chromatographic profiles of primary metabolites (sugars, lipids and fatty acids) obtained by three chromatographic techniques (high-performance thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection). Results and conclusions: Comprehensive analysis allowed monitoring and identification of metabolites belonging to polar lipids, mono-, di- and triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, free sterols, sterol esters, mono- to heptasaccharides and sugar alcohols. Chemical fingerprint of berry seeds showed the uniformity of primary metabolites within each fruit species, but revealed differences depending on the botanical origin. All three chromatographic methods provided a discriminative, informative and predictive metabolomics methodology, which proved to be useful for chemotaxonomic classification. Novelty and scientific contribution: A novel methodology for the identification of bioactive compounds from primary metabolites of natural products was described. The proposed untargeted metabolite profiling approach could be used in the future as a routine method for tracing of novel bioactive compounds. The knowledge of metabolite composition obtained in this study can provide a better assessment of genotypic and phenotypic differences between berry fruit species and varieties, and could contribute to the development of new breeding programs.

Phenolic Compounds as Phytochemical Tracers of Varietal Origin of Some Autochthonous Apple Cultivars Grown in Serbia.

Domesticated international (standard) apple cultivars, together with resistant apple cultivars are the core of the Serbian apple production. Furthermore, autochthonous cultivars are characterized by a good adaptability to the local environmental conditions and represent a valuable source of genetic variability, as well as an important source of the gene pool for further breeding programs. Additionally, they show a higher phenolic content and a stronger antioxidant activity, in comparison to commercial cultivars. Therefore, they are more likely to be used as a functional food. The subjects of this study were seventeen samples of fruits and leaves from autochthonous apple cultivars, five international standard cultivars, and six resistant apple cultivars. The phenolic profile was determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), coupled with a diode array detector and a TSQ Quantum Access Max triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. A total of twenty compounds were quantified in the samples. Most of the analyzed phenolics were detected in higher amounts in the peel, compared to the mesocarp. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicate that 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid is present in the highest amount in the mesocarp, while in the peel and leaves, quercetin-glycosides were detected in the highest amount. According to the MANOVA: phloretin, phlorizin, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, kaempferol, and p-coumaric acid are present in significantly higher levels in the autochthonous cultivars, compared to the standard and resistant ones (in both fruits and leaves). Therefore, these compounds can be used as chemical tracers of the apple varietal origin.

When Is the Right Moment to Pick Blueberries? Variation in Agronomic and Chemical Properties of Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Cultivars at Different Harvest Times.

Blueberries, which are recognized by their colored fruits and exquisite flavor and taste, are a great source of bioactive substances with potential functional properties. For the purpose of this study, the blueberry cultivars 'Duke', 'Chandler' and 'Bluecrop' were picked at four different times. The aim of the study was to compare the cultivars and determine the best time for picking fruits for table consumption and to produce berries that can be used as functional foods with elevated levels of bioactive compounds. According to principal component analysis (PCA), the most influential traits for distinguishing different times of harvest in the 'Duke' cultivar were sorbitol, glucose, sucrose, and turanose; for the cultivar 'Chandler', they were caffeic acid, aesculetin, and quercetin; for the 'Bluecrop', they were fructose, maltose, radical scavenging activity, and quercetin. Blueberry fruits aimed for table consumption were those harvested in the first two pickings of the cultivar 'Duke', in the first and third of the 'Bluecrop', and in the third picking time of the cultivar 'Chandler', due to the highest fruit size and very high level of sugar (mostly glucose and fructose). 'Duke' berries from the second and third harvest (high level of total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, total anthocyanins, aesculin, quercetin, and isorhamnetin), 'Chandler' from the first and third (the highest p-hydroxybenzoic acid, aesculetin, caffeic acid, phloridzin, kaempferol, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, rutin, and quercetin) and 'Bluecrop' from the third harvest (highest level of total phenolics, radical scavenging activity, quercetin, rutin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, kaempferol, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, and isorhamnetin) had the highest levels of health-promoting compounds.

Polyphenolics and Chemical Profiles of Domestic Norwegian Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) Cultivars.

Using modern analytical techniques, a comprehensive study of the chemical composition of fruits from apple cultivars grown in Western Norway during 2019 and 2020 was done. Metals, sugars, organic acids, antioxidant tests, and polyphenol content have been observed. In all investigated samples, the most dominant sugars were glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Among 11 tested organic acids, the dominant was malic acid, followed by citric and maleic acid. The most common metal was potassium, followed by magnesium and zinc. The quantification of polyphenols showed that among the 11 quantified polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin, and phlorizin were the most abundant. A detailed study of the polyphenolic profile of nine investigated apple samples provided 30 identified polyphenolic compounds from the class of hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, and dihydrochalcones. In addition to the identified 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, its two isomers of 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and three esters were also found. Present polyphenols of the tested apples provided significant data on the quality of Norwegian apples, and they contribute to the distinguishing of these apple samples.

Does Shoot Age Influence Biological and Chemical Properties in Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.) Cultivars?

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of shoot age on the biological and chemical properties of 13 black currant cultivars with different origins and ripening times. Phenological observations together with examined pomological and chemical characteristics were studied in two consecutive years at the experimental field near Belgrade, Serbia. The total content of phenols was estimated spectrophotometrically by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while quantitative analysis of anthocyanin and flavonols aglycones was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Principal component analysis was performed to establish differences in biological and chemical properties of black currants. Three-year-old shoots had an earlier start of all examined phenological stages, better generative potential, higher yields, while clusters and berries from 2-year-old shoots had significantly higher values for physical properties, total phenols, anthocyanin and flavanols aglycones and antiradical capacity. Late ripening cultivars had higher contents of all chemical compounds. The berries on 2-year-old shoots had total phenolics that ranged between 123.0 ('Titania') and 298.3 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) ('Ometa'), while total anthocyanins ranged between 398.5 ('Ojebyn') and 1160.8 mg/kg FW ('Ometa'). According to the obtained results, cultivars 'Ometa', 'Ben Lomond', 'Tsema' and 'Malling Juel' can be recommended as the most promising for growing in the continental climate because they stood out with higher generative potential and yield, physical traits of cluster and berry, higher level of primary and secondary metabolites and DPPH activity in their berries.

Comprehensive electrophoretic profiling of proteins as a powerful tool for authenticity assessment of seeds of cultivated berry fruits.

Product authentication is one of the most important food quality assurances. Considering the importance of consumption of berry fruits with proven health-beneficial properties, high sensory values and rich composition in bioactive substances, the aim of this study was to evaluate a straightforward and simple procedure for the protein fingerprinting of berry seeds. For this purpose, protein profiles of 45 samples of genuine berry fruit cultivars (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black currant, blueberry, gooseberry, chokeberry, cape gooseberry, and gojiberry) were analyzed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis in combination with advanced chemometric tools. The most important parameters for discrimination among berry seeds were polypeptides at 12.8; 15.1; 25.0; 26.4; 30.0; 41.8; 44.4; 46.0; 48.5; 52.3 and 56.4 kDa. Biomarkers obtained from the protein profile of berry seeds proved to be a powerful tool in the authentication of their botanical origin, as well as for potential detection of berry-based products adulteration.

Analysis of Phenolic Compounds for the Determination of Grafts (in) Compatibility Using In Vitro Callus Cultures of Sato-Zakura Cherries.

The aim of this study was to prove that under in vitro conditions, the adhesiveness of the callus between rootstock and scion, the development of callus cells at the points of fusion, and the presence of phenolic components are closely related to the level of (in) compatibility of the grafting combinations between Sato-zakura cherry cultivars ('Amanogawa', 'Kanzan', and 'Kiku-shidare-zakura') and commercial rootstocks. Prunus avium, Prunus 'Colt', Prunus mahaleb and Prunus serrulata were used as compatible and Prunus serotina and Pyrus communis 'Pyrodwarf' were used as two potentially incompatible rootstocks. The results indicated the significant manifestations of the early signs of the incompatibility on the callus junction. Phenols, as well as tissue senescence, were very precisely localized by toluidine blue and alcian blue as well as safranin staining, which can indicate the early signs of the callus incompatibility in some grafting unions. In the callus unions of Prunus avium with 'Amanogawa' and 'Kiku-shidare-zakura' the results of chemical analyses indicated that the existence of several flavonols, flavones and phenol acids could be involved in the incompatibility process in grafted combination. The detection of flavonol astragalin in the unions can be a biomarker of compatibility between scion and the rootstock, while some polyphenols, such as neochlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, baicalein, naringenin, apigenin and luteolin can be used as the indicators of graft incompatibility. p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid could be used for detection of delayed incompatibility.

Release of wood extractable elements in experimental spirit model: Health risk assessment of the wood species generated in Balkan cooperage.

This work investigates the release of toxic elements from wood into the experimental spirit models and the safety risks for consumers. The spirit models were prepared as ethanolic extracts using the procedure which reproduces maturation of spirits. Investigation included staves of wood species commonly used in Balkan cooperage: mulberry, Myrobalan plum, black locust, wild cherry, and various oaks. Potassium was the most abundant element, except in the wild cherry extract where calcium was dominant, and the Myrobalan plum extract where phosphorus was the most abundant. The parameters for the health risk assessment, such as hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated for potentially toxic elements and indicated that all wood extracts would be safe for human consumption. Owing to the proven abundance of phenolics in the investigated wood extracts, relations among elements and phenolics were also studied and conclusions were made based on the statistically significant correlations.

Functionality of Embryo Sacs in Pear Cultivars 'Ingeborg' and 'Celina' as Related to Fruit Set under Nordic Climate.

Since the European pear (Pyrus communis L.) is a self-incompatible fruit species, synchrony and compatibility between female parts of the mother plant and male gametes from the pollen donor must be fulfilled. Besides pollination and fertilization, normal embryo and zygote development is one of the prerequisites for the satisfactory yields in pears. The main goal of this experiment was to investigate the functionality of embryo sacs and the embryo's early stages of growth in relation to the fruit set of diploid ('Celina') and the triploid ('Ingeborg') pear cultivars under specific Norwegian climatic conditions. For this purpose, flowers were collected at the beginning of flowering, and on the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth days after the beginning of this phenophase for two consecutive years. Ovaries were dehydrated, embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned, stained, and observed under the light microscope. In the analyzed cultivars, results showed different tendencies in embryo sac development and degradation processes, in both experimental years, which is probably due to the genetic background of the examined cultivars. Also, fertilization success and fruit set were higher in the second year of study due to the higher average temperature during the flowering period. Diploid cultivar 'Celina' showed much better adaptation to high temperatures in relation to triploid cultivar 'Ingeborg'.

Radical Scavenging and Antimicrobial Properties of Polyphenol Rich Waste Wood Extracts.

The main focus of this study is to assess radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of the 11 wood extracts: oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Q. robur L., and Q. cerris L.), mulberry (Morus alba L.), myrobalan plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), and wild cherry (Prunus avium L.). High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) provided initial phenolic screening and revealed different chemical patterns among investigated wood extracts. To identify individual compounds with radical scavenging activity DPPH-HPTLC, assay was applied. Gallic acid, ferulic and/or caffeic acids were identified as the compounds with the highest contribution of total radical scavenging activity. Principal component analysis was applied on the data set obtained from HPTLC chromatogram to classify samples based on chemical fingerprints: Quercus spp. formed separate clusters from the other wood samples. The wood extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against eight representative human and opportunistic pathogens. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was recorded against Staphylococcus aureus for black locust, cherry and mulberry wood extracts. This work provided simple, low-cost and high-throughput screening of phenolic compounds and assessments of the radical scavenging properties of selected individual metabolites from natural matrix that contributed to scavenge free radicals.

Establishing the chromatographic fingerprints of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins from rose hip (Rosa sp.) species.

The profile of flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins in five different Rosa species (R. canina, R. glutinosa, R. rubiginosa, R. multiflora, and R. spinosissima) was estimated on high performance thin layer chromatography cellulose plates. Differences in flavanol and proanthocyanidin profiles of the extracts were evident, among which Rosa spinosissima stood out with catechin as the only detected flavanol and red zones as indication of anthocyanins. Furthermore, the elution solvent for thin layer chromatography with mass spectrometry analyses of glycosylated flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins was optimized, enabling identification of catechin, (epi)catechin hexoside, proanthocyanidin dimer, and proanthocyanidin dimers and trimers hexosides. A total of 15 flavanols and their derivatives were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with linear trap quadrupole-Orbitrap mass analyzer and epicatechin, gallocatechin, and proanthocyanidin trimer were identified only using this technique. However, proanthocyanidin trimer trihexoside was identified only by thin-layer chromatography with mass spectrometry. To establish the relationships between the flavanols and proanthocyanidins composition of rose hip and their origin, principal component analysis was performed on the entire set of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry data. Both principal components' scores plots showed that Rosa spinosissima could be considered as an outlier. Our study demonstrated that flavanol and proanthocyanidin profiles of different rose hips depend on the geographical origin rather than on the cultivar and genotype.

Chemometric Characterization of Strawberries and Blueberries according to Their Phenolic Profile: Combined Effect of Cultivar and Cultivation System.

Chemical characterizations of leaves and fruits that were obtained from organically and integrally produced strawberries ('Favette', 'Alba', and 'Clery') and blueberries ('Bluecrop', 'Duke', and 'Nui') from western Serbia were undertaken in this study. Phenolic analysis was done while using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a linear ion trap-Orbitrap hybrid mass analyzer, while total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and radical-scavenging activity (RSA) by spectrophotometry. In general, leaves and fruits from blueberry showed higher levels of TPC and TAC as compared to strawberry. These chemical traits were larger in organic grown fruits and larger in leaves than fruits. The most abundant phenolics in leaves and fruits of blueberry was 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, followed by quercetin 3-O-galactoside, while catechin, quercetin, and kaempferol 3-O-glucosid were dominant in the leaves and fruits of strawberry. cis, trans-Abscisic acid was detected in all fruit samples, but not in leaves. Blueberries (both fruits and leaves) were separated from strawberries, but only organic blueberry fruits were distinguished from integrated fruits, according to principal component analysis. Quercetin, kaempferol, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, p-coumaric acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were the most influential phenolic compounds for the separation. Much higher contents of TPC, RSA, TAC, quercetin 3-O-galactoside, and quercetin were found in fruits and TPC, RSA, catechin, p-hydroxybenzoicacid, p-coumaricacid, and ferulic acid in leaves in all three blueberry cultivars and the strawberry cultivar 'Clery'. These phenolic compounds are good sources of antioxidant compounds with potentially high beneficial effects on human health.

Chemical Fingerprint of 'Oblacinska' Sour Cherry (Prunuscerasus L.) Pollen.

The aim of this research was to analyze sugars and phenolics of pollen obtained from 15 different 'Oblacinska' sour cherry clones and to assess the chemical fingerprint of this cultivar. Carbohydrate analysis was done using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD), while polyphenols were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD MS/MS) system. Glucose was the most abundant sugar, followed by fructose and sucrose. Some samples had high level of stress sugars, especially trehalose. Rutin was predominantly polyphenol in a quantity up to 181.12 mg/kg (clone III/9), with chlorogenic acid (up to 59.93 mg/kg in clone III/9) and p-coumaric acid (up to 53.99 mg/kg in clone VIII/1) coming after. According to the principal component analysis (PCA), fructose, maltose, maltotriose, sorbitol, and trehalose were the most important sugars in separating pollen samples. PCA showed splitting off clones VIII/1, IV/8, III/9, and V/P according to the quantity of phenolics and dissimilar profiles. Large differences in chemical composition of studied 'Oblacinska sour cherry' clone pollen were shown, proving that it is not a cultivar, but population. Finally, due to the highest level of phenolics, clones IV/8, XV/3, and VIII/1 could be singled out as a promising one for producing functional food and/or in medicinal treatments.

Distribution of elements in seeds of some wild and cultivated fruits. Nutrition and authenticity aspects.

BACKGROUND: The compositional, functional, and nutritional properties of fruits are important for defining their quality. Fruit seeds should be better exploited as they are also considered to be a good source of bioactive components. Twenty macro, micro, and trace elements were identified and quantified in the seeds of 70 genuine wild and cultivated fruit species/cultivars by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Sophisticated chemometric techniques were also used to establish criteria for the classification of the analyzed samples. RESULTS: Calcium and P were the most abundant elements, followed by K and Na. The content of microelements and trace elements differed among the different cultivars/genotypes. The content of Ba, Pb, and Sr was significantly higher in wild fruits, whereas Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni and Zn content was higher in cultivated fruits. CONCLUSION: All of the statistical procedures that were used - Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U-test, and principal component analysis (PCA) - confirm a unique set of parameters that could be used as phytochemical biomarkers to differentiate fruit-seed samples belonging to different cultivars/genotypes according to their botanical origin. This kind of investigation may contribute to intercultivar/genetic discrimination and may enhance the possibilities of acquiring a valuable authenticity factor. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Carbon stable isotope composition of modern and archaeological Cornelian cherry fruit stones: a pilot study.

The carbon stable isotope content of Cornelian cherry stones collected from wild tree stands in Serbia, SE Europe, was measured using elemental analyser-isotope ratio mass spectrometry, with the aim of recording natural carbon isotope composition of the fruit stones and its possible variation. The results show a significant variation in the carbon isotope values; we identified several environmental factors that, along with a number of other possible determinants, likely contributed to this variation. The obtained data are compared with the measurement of carbon isotope content of an archaeological specimen of Cornelian cherry stone discovered at the Neolithic site of Vinca (ca. 5600-4500 BC) in Serbia. Notwithstanding the limitedness of the data and the complexity surrounding carbon fractionation and the isotopic variation, it is suggested that the differences/similarities in carbon isotope ratios between modern and archaeological Cornelian cherry stones, when measured for much larger assemblages, could potentially offer a glimpse into growing conditions of Cornelian cherry trees in the past.

Characterization of Sugar and Polyphenolic Diversity in Floral Nectar of Different 'Oblacinska' Sour Cherry Clones.

'Oblacinska' sour cherry, an autochthonous cultivar, is the most planted cultivar in Serbian orchards. Since fruit trees in temperate zone reward insects by producing nectar which 'quality' affects the efficiency of insect pollination, the aim of this study was analyzing of sugars and polyphenolics in floral nectar of 16 'Oblacinska' sour cherry clones with different yielding potential. The contents of sugars and sugar alcohols were analyzed by ion chromatography, while polyphenolic profile was established using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. Fourteen sugars and six sugar alcohols were detected in nectar samples and the most abundant were fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Eleven polyphenols were quantified using available standards, while another 17 were identified according to their exact masses and characteristic fragmentations. Among quantified polyphenols, rutin, naringenin, and chrysin were the most abundant in nectar. Principal component analysis showed that some polyphenol components (naringin, naringenin, and rutin) together with sugars had high impact of spatial distribution of nectar samples on score plot.