Content of bioactive components in small and stone fruits as affected by cultivar specificities and growing conditions, and obtaining biologically valuable products by improved and newly developed technologies

Globally, Serbia ranks third in raspberry export, and fourth and fifth in the export of fresh plum fruits and prunes, respectively. Small fruits and plum are characterised by high phenolic compounds content. Apart from functions important for plant adaptation to environment conditions and reaction to other organisms, numerous studies have shown that fruit-originating phenolic compounds, the so-called bioactive components (flavonoids, condensed tannins, ect.), have positive effects on human health. The project research will aim to identify and quantify bioactive and aromatic components in small fruits and plum grown in the most prominent agricultural regions of Serbia, as well as in fruit products; the research will also look into ways of increasing and preserving these components as a basic parameter of exceptional quality. The project will promote the development of new technological methods of producing biologically valuable components of functional food, whereby their biological value is preserved. Our technological methods will encompass only physical (freezing, concentrating at lower temperatures and reduced pressures, membrane separation) and chemical (water extraction or extraction with edible plant oils) methods that completely preserve biological value of component(s) being isolated. Effects of consuming biologically valuable components through food will be studied through the impact of berry components (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries) on blood coagulation.