Abstract: The contents of L-ascorbic acid, soluble sugar, titrable acid and total phenols and pH of 13 apple cultivars were determined. Meanwhile their antioxidant activities were also evaluated based on reducing power, scavenging capacity agaisnt 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH ·) and hydroxyl radical ( ·OH), and anti-lipid peroxidation activity. Moreover, cluster analysis was performed. The results indicated that 13 apple cultivars revealed significant difference in chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Starkrimson, Rattan No. 1 and Yanguang had the highest antioxidant activity, whereas Qinguan, Pink Lady and Red Fuji had the lowest antioxidant activity. A significant correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content was observed. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed the highest content of L-ascorbic acid in U.S. Pat and Pacific Rose, the highest content of soluble sugar in Jonagold, Pacific Rose, Pink Lady, Qinguan and Red Fuji, the richest titrable acid in Pink Lady and the highest sugar/acid ratio in Qinguan and Red Fuji, respectively. Meanwhile, the most abundant phenols were observed in Rattan No. 1, Yanguang, Starkrimson and Jonagold.

Key words: apple, chemical composition, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity