Unlocking Rosaceae Family as a Source of Natural Antioxidants: Extraction Strategy Shapes Polyphenolic Fingerprint and Bioactivity

Diet plays a fundamental role in maintaining human health, which has intensified scientific interest in bioactive food constituents and contributed to the development of functional foods. Polyphenols, one of the most important groups of plant secondary metabolites, are valued for their strong antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Species belonging to the Rosaceae family, including Rosa, Crataegus, and Pyracantha, are recognized as promising sources of phenolic compounds, although their chemical profiles and antioxidant potential remain insufficiently characterized. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess selected phenolic compounds in extracts obtained from ripe fruits of selected Rosaceae species and cultivars. The extracts were prepared using ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, and matrix solid-phase dispersion. The resulting samples were subsequently subjected to comprehensive analyses of their chemical composition and antioxidant capacity. These extraction techniques differ substantially in their operational principles and process parameters; notably, ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and pressurized liquid extraction require more complex and tightly controlled conditions, whereas matrix solid-phase dispersion constitutes a comparatively simpler and less parameter-dependent approach. The results revealed distinct phenolic profiles among the examined species and confirmed the presence of compounds exhibiting strong antioxidant activity. Collectively, these findings broaden current knowledge of the phytochemical diversity present in Rosaceae fruits and underscore their potential as natural sources of bioactive constituents relevant to the development and formulation of functional food products.