A Comparison of Antioxidant Content and Radical Scavenging Activity in the Fruits of the Native Korean Plant Ribes fasciculatum var. chinense by Region

Background: Ribes fasciculatum var. chinense is a deciduous shrub native to Korea that has traditionally been used and is valued for its pharmacological properties and edible fruit. Recently, its potential as a functional ingredient has garnered attention owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflamma- tory, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective properties. However, systematic research on variations in antioxidant constituents across native habitats remains limited. Methods and Results: Fruits from eight sites in Korean were analyzed for morphological traits, antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP); and total anthocyanin, polyphenol, and flavonoid contents. Morphological characteristics and antioxidant activity differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the sites. Polyphenol content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity were the highest in the HY and DY groups. Total polyphenols showed strong correlations with ABTS and FRAP (r > 0.85, p < 0.01), whereas total flavonoid content showed a weak correlation with DPPH activity. Principal component analysis, which explained 93.6% of the total variance, clearly distinguished habitats based on antioxidant characteristics. Conclusions: Antioxidant properties of R. fasciculatum berries varied significantly depending on the natural habitat, and the total phenolic content was suggested to be a key contributor to ABTS and FRAP activities. The HY and DY groups exhibited superior antioxidant properties and are excellent candidates for the development of functional materials.