The samples were obtained in December 2011. All samples (pulp and

by-products) were freeze-dried at −50 °C under 5 mtorr (9.67× 10−5 psi) vacuum for 48 h in a Labconco Freeze Dry-5 dryer (Labconco, MO). The freeze-dried material Selleckchem JAK inhibitor was stored in a desiccator protected from light until further use. Moisture content was determined for all samples following AOAC method 920.151 (data not shown) (AOAC, 1995). Analyses of anthocyanins and yellow flavonoids were carried out as described by Francis (1982). Briefly, 1 g of each freeze-dried sample was suspended in 10 ml of extraction solution (1.5 N HCl in 85% ethanol). Samples were homogenized, transferred to a 50 ml volumetric flask, and extracted for 13 h under refrigeration in the dark. After this period, the extracts were filtered (Whatman No. 1 filter paper) and absorbance at 535 nm (anthocyanins) and 374 nm (yellow flavonoids) were measured in a Shimadzu UV-1800 spectrophotometer (Columbia, MA). The content of anthocyanins and yellow flavonoids were calculated using

Equation 1 and absorption coefficients of 982 and 766 (g/100 ml)−1cm−1, respectively. equation(1) Anthocyaninscontent(mg/100gd.b.)=(ABS×dilutionfactors)×1000(sampledriedweight×ε1cm,5351%)where ABS   is absorbance reading of sample at 535 nm, and ε1cm,5351% is the absorption coefficient for anthocyanins. Yellow flavonoids content was calculated using the same equation with absorbance reading selleck compound at 374 nm and its respective absorption coefficient. β-Carotene and lycopene were extracted and quantified according to the method described by Nagata and Yamashita (1992). Briefly, 1 g of each freeze-dried sample was suspended in 10 ml of extraction solution ((2:3) acetone: hexane) and mixed for 1 min. Samples were filtered (Whatman No. 1) and spectrophotometric readings were obtained at 453, 505, 645, and 663 nm and results Cell press were expressed as μg of β-carotene or lycopene/100 g dry basis (d.b.). Total phenolics content were determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method (Waterhouse, 2002). First, freeze-dried samples were weighed (10–25 g)

in centrifuge tubes and extracted sequentially with 40 ml of 50% (v/v) ethanol in water solution at room temperature for 1 h. Tubes were centrifuged at 2540 g for 15 min and the supernatant was recovered. Then, 40 ml of 70% (v/v) acetone in water was added to the residue, extracted for 60 min at room temperature, and centrifuged for a second time (2540g for 15 min). Ethanol and acetone extracts were combined, made up to 100 ml with distilled water and used for Folin–Ciocalteu analysis. Extracts (1 ml) were mixed with 1 ml of Folin–Ciocalteu reagent (1:3), 2 ml of 20% (w/v) sodium carbonate solution and 2 ml of distilled water. After 1 h, absorbance at 700 nm was measured using a spectrophotometer. Results were expressed as gram of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g of sample dry basis (GAE/100 g d.b.).