Antioxidant in blueberry peel

Blueberry, like most berries, is rich in flavonoids, tannins and phenolic acids. Anthocyanins are confined principally to the blueberry peel in the epidermal and subepidermal cell layers.

High levels of anthocyanidins are found mostly in the water-soluble purple pigment of the peel. These molecules promote collagen synthesis, this being one of the main structural components of dermal connective tissue, providing benefits to the skin and also supporting the vascular system. Blueberries are also reported to have beneficial effects on vision.

The protective effects of blueberry fruit juice or peel extracts have been shown to alleviate insulin resistance, reduce obesity and dyslipidemia.

Additionally, these antioxidant molecules are able to prevent the deleterious effects of oxidation, inhibiting the onset of lipid peroxidation, sequestering free radicals and protecting aerobic organisms from oxidative stress, which is defined as an increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species.

The juice extraction residue (pomace) contains approximately 52% of the antioxidant activity of the fruit (on a dry basis), showing that the compounds present in the peel contribute to the antioxidant properties of blueberry, likely due to the higher anthocyanin content.
Antioxidant in blueberry peel