Focused Analysis of Changes in Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential of Sweet Orange Varieties throughout Developmental Stages

The present research work was planned to explore the nutraceutical composition of sweet orange varieties during different developmental stages for fresh fruit consumption and industrial purposes. Five sweet orangeswere analysed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) along with the antioxidant capacity by four different assays viz. DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl ion (OH^–) activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total reducing power (TRP), some major flavanone like hesperidin and other like naringin. The outcomes of the research work revealed more pronounced antioxidant readings in Early Gold peel (90 days after fruit set, DAFS), while the phenolics were found maximum in the Ruby Nucellar peel; TPC at 90 DAFS (15.4 mg GAE g^–1 dry wt) and TFC at 150 DAFS (2.23 mg RE g^–1 dry wt). Whereas greater concentrations of hesperidin (7.25 mg g^–1 dry wt) and naringin (4.52 mg g^–1 dry wt) were detected in Itaborai at 90 DAFS.