Evaluation of Biochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Content of Two Wild-Grown Berberis Fruits: Berberis nummularia and Berberis atrocarpa

To evaluate the potential health-promoting benefits of Berberis nummularia and B. atrocarpa fruits, the biochemical properties (nutrition component, mineral substance, organic acids), total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS and ORAC) capacity of ethanol extracts of B. nummularia and B. atrocarpa fruits wild-grown in Xinjiang were analyzed. The results indicated that there were no meaningful differences (p > 0.05) between the ash (1 ± 0.1 and 1 ± 0.0 g/100 g), fiber (16 ± 1.0 and 18 ± 1.4) and carbohydrate (57 ± 1.8 and 56 ± 1.8 g/100 g) content, respectively, in the dry fruits of B. nummularia and B. atrocarpa. The total fat (7 ± 0.4 and 5 ± 0.1 mg/100 g), soluble sugar (23 ± 0.6 and 12 ± 1.4 g/100 g), titratable acidity (18 ± 2.5% and 14 ± 1.3%) content, and energy value (330.86 and 314.41 kcal/100 g) of B. nummularia was significantly higher than that of B. atrocarpa fruits. Both species contain malic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and fumaric acid, in which, malic acid is the dominant organic acid. The organic acid and mineral components of B. nummularia fruits were significantly higher than that of B. atrocarpa (p < 0.05). The total phenolic and flavonoid content of B. nummularia were 2 ± 0.0 mg GA/g DW and 2 ± 0.0 mg RE/g DW, respectively, which were significantly lower than the total phenolic and flavonoid content of B. atrocarpa (12 ± 0.1 mg GA/g DW and 9 ± 0.0 mg RE/g DW). The antioxidant capacity of B. nummularia (4 ± 0.1 mg Ascorbic acid/g DW for DPPH, 32 ± 0.1 mg Trolox/g DW for FRAP, 80 ± 3.0 mg Trolox/g DW for ABTS and 60 ± 3.6 mg Trolox/g for ORAC was significantly lower than that of B. atrocarpa (12 ± 0.0 mg Ascorbic acid/g DW for DPPH, 645 ± 1.1 mg Trolox/g DW for FRAP, 304 ± 3.0 mg Trolox/g DW for ABTS and 155 ± 2.8 mg Trolox/g for ORAC). B. atrocarpa fruits showed significantly higher antioxidant capacity than that of B. nummularia. The fruits of the two species can be used in food coloring and nutritional supplements, and consumption of the fruits can aid in weight control and reduce blood glucose or cholesterol.