Aronia melanocarpa Michx. Elliot, native to eastern North America, has become popular in Eastern Europe and Russia. Aronia melanocarpa fruits are one of the richest plant sources of phenolic substances, mainly anthocyanins, glycosides of cyanidin. Anthocyanins are water soluble pigments accounting for the dark blue and even black color of the fruits. Aronia has also been reported to contain antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It has been studied intensively for the last 15 years.
Keywords: black chokeberry, shrub, fitochemistry, anthocyanins, procyanidins, antioxidant