Chokeberry pomace: Waste, or a valuable source of bioactive compounds?

Berry pomaces, byproducts of the food industry, are rich in bioactive polyphenolic compounds, which are well recognized for their strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Unfortunately, chokeberry pomace (CBP) often ends up as environmentally harmful waste. In this work, it is shown that CBP is a significant source of polyphenolic compounds, which exhibit high antioxidant activity and can therefore be used as a raw material. The total content of polyphenols, flavonols and flavanones, and anthocyanins in the chokeberry pomace extract was determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity of chokeberry pomace extract was determined using ABTS and DPPH tests. The contents of total polyphenols, flavonols and flavanones, and anthocyanins, determined in CBP, were 204.61, 14.74, and 14.62 mg g-1 of dry matter, respectively. The antioxidant activity of chokeberry pomace extract was determined using the DPPH and ABTS methods (66.44% and 78.20%), indicating that it can effectively combat free radicals. Rather than being a waste, the rich content of various polyphenols, not only anthocyanins, makes chokeberry pomace an excellent starting material for cosmetic products, with potential applications in the food industry.