Comparison of Metabolite Levels and Antioxidant Activity between Dried Fruits of the Korean Traditional ‘Bokjo’ and Three Large-sized Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) Cultivars

The cultivated area of large-sized Ziziphus jujuba Mill., commonly known as wang jujube in South Korea, is undergoing an expansion due to the increasing recognition of its value as a fresh fruit.This study aimed to analyze differences in metabolites and antioxidant activities between the dried fruits of Korean 'Bokjo' landrace and three cultivars of large-sized jujube as part of an effort to evaluate the potential use of wang jujube as a medicinal material and food ingredient.The sugar content was highest in the Cheonhwang, Daeneung, Hwangsil, and Bokjo cultivars, in descending order, while the organic acid content was highest in Daeneung, followed by Cheonhwang, Bokjo, and Hwangsil.The levels of minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids were most abundant in Bokjo, followed by Hwangsil, Daeneung, and Cheonhwang.Phenolic compounds were most abundant in Bokjo, Daeneung, Hwangsil, and Cheonhwang, with rutin and quercetin being predominant in Bokjo, Cheonhwang, and Hwangsil, while Daeneung mainly contained rutin and gallic acid.A principal component analysis revealed that the three large-sized jujube cultivars were compositionally distinct from the traditional Bokjo variety, forming two separate groups: the 'Bokjo-Hwangsil' group and the 'Cheonhwang-Daeneung' group.The overall DPPH antioxidant activity ranged from 66.5 to 70.7%, showing minimal differences across cultivars.The ABTS antioxidant activity ranged from 68.3 to 69.2%, showing no significant variation.Positive correlations were observed