Advances in Ribes x nidigrolaria Rud. Bauer & A. Bauer fruits as potential source of natural molecules: A preliminary study on physico-chemical traits of an underutilized berry

Jostaberry (Ribes x nidigrolaria Rud. Bauer & A. Bauer., family Grossulariaceae) is a berryfruit with demonstrated health-promoting properties. This work aimed to evaluate the potential of a jostaberry variety (Ribes x nidigrolaria Rud. Bauer & A. Bauer, cv Josta) as a source of natural bioactive compounds by characterizing its physicochemical characteristics, nutraceutical properties, and antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, the characterization and quantification of several phytochemicals was performed, using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection. The most important detected class was monoterpenes (31.05 ± 0.75%), followed by organic acids (28.34 ± 1.21%), polyphenols (24.75 ± 2.08%), and vitamins (15.86 ± 0.34%). Results showed that jostaberry fruits are sources of phenolic constituents, as catechins (95.05 ± 21.99 mg/100 g FW) and anthocyanins (31.55 ± 9.73 mg/100 g FW). This study provided a detailed assessment of the quality and phytochemical characteristics of jostaberry: this research describes Ribes x nidigrolaria as an important fruit species that could be a source of bioactive compounds contributing to the prevention of diseases resulting from oxidative stress.