Flavonoids content in juices of blood oranges,cultivated in different areas of Sicily

The "Blood Orange of Sicily" identifies the varieties of red pulp oranges, cultivated under the disciplinary "IPG Blood Orange of Sicily" (Protected Geographical Indication). These varieties of oranges differ from varieties for the presence of red pigments, such as anthocyanins and to an higher concentration of antioxidant (hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids and ascorbic acid). Flavonoids are the most important class of secondary metabolites found in citrus fruits and are distinguished by proven beneficial properties important to the well-being and physical and mental health of the individual, since they play a major role antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-infectious and anti-allergic, protecting and blocking the oxidative attack of free radicals. In this work data concerning the flavonoids characterization of 2 cvs of Citrus sinensis cultivated in different environments of Sicily are reported. The cvs. investigated were Tarocco Gallo and Moro. The first cultivar was cultivated in the areas of Lentini (SR, Sicily) and Santa Maria di Licodia (CT, Sicily), while the cv. Moro, was grown in Lentini and Noto (SR, Sicily). The areas were selected in relation of the typical areas of IGP production. All the cultivation adopted the organic farming system. The juices were obtained by Oranfresh® squeezing system, and characterized for the content of hesperidin, narirutin and didymin, (mg/100 mL-1 of juice) using HPLC-ESI-MS-MS. On average of locations, "Moro" achieved the highest amounts of all studied flavonoids than "Tarocco Gallo". In particular hesperidin resulted 30.036 , Didymin 1.636 and Narirutin 3.307 mg/100 mL of juice. The cv. Tarocco Gallo showed, on average, values 14% lower than "Moro". Differences were recorded intracultivar between the two environment; Moro gave the best results in Lentini, while "Tarocco Gallo" in Noto.