Strawberry fruit (Fragaria x Ananassa Duch.) as a valuable source of nutritional and biologically active substances (Review)

Abstract

For the last time a lot of attention has been paid to strawberry as a garden crop. All this thanks to its preventive and medical benefits related to the consumption of its fruit. The paper presents the data analysis of foreign and domestic researchers on the accumulation of basic food components (sugars, organic acids), vitamins, mineral substances and other valuable ones in. Which determine the high antioxidant properties of strawberries. On the basis of scientific literature sources, the vitamin profile was compiled wich reflects the accumulation of vitamin groups, specific for a given crop. With all diversity of vitamins found in strawberry fruits, the fruits of this plant are primarily good as a valuable source of ascorbic acid, folic acid, polyphenolic compounds (anthocyanins, ellagic acid). As for mineral substances, the presence of iron amount confirms the fact. In spite of fact that the strawberry composition is studied enough, the further detailed characterization of genetic resources is necessary both by total antioxidant activity and by definite chemical components, the last ones, obviously, present the antioxidant complex of strawberry fruits. The given information will be a base for future related investigations of phytochemical compounds of fruits and berries. They are extraordinary important in healthy food of humans as well as in creation of nutraceutical products.