ANTHOCYANINS IN INDIGENOUS AND CULTURED FRUIT IN POLIMLJE, NORTH-EAST OF MONTENEGRO

Investigations determined the qualitative content of anthocyanins in cultivated apples, plums, cherries and sour cherries, and raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, myrobalans and cornelian cherries which grow spontaneously in the Polimlje area. The qualitative analysis of anthocyanins was performed using the one-dimensional ascending thin-layer chromatography method, while the relative content vas evaluated using a numeric scale of 0-5. The total European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) anthocyanin content was investigated according to the procedure described in the European Pharmacopeia 6.0. Anthocyanin aglycones were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The contrasts in genotype stipulated qualitative and quantitative variations in the content of anthocyanins between different species, and between the same species and genotypes. Altogether, seventeen anthocyanins were identified, whereof eleven were from cultured fruit and eight from indigenous fruit. Different fruit species contained the same anthocyanins: cyanidin-3-abinoside was identified in apples and cornelian cherries, cyanidin-3-glycoside in plums, myrobalans and raspberries, and peonidin-3-rutinoside in plums and myrobalans.