Antioxidant properties and changes in vitro digestion of the fermented kiwifruit extract prepared by lactic acid bacteria and yeasts.

• Antioxidant properties of fermented kiwifruit extract changed during fermentation. • The typical antioxidant components were highly correlated with antioxidant ability. • Polyphenols in fermented kiwifruit extract evolved into monophenols. • Digestive environment could affect the antioxidant properties of different samples. The health benefits of fermented fruits have attracted consumers' attention. High levels of antioxidant ability in the fermented kiwifruit extract were found at the early stage of fermentation. The co-fermention with Lactobacillus paracasei LG0260 and Kluyveromyces marxianus J2853 showed the highest ABTS radical scavenging ability (ABTS⋅+-SA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Also, the typical antioxidant components of SOD activity, vitamin C concentration and total phenol content were highly correlated with ABTS⋅+-SA. Obviously, polyphenols in the fermented kiwifruit extract evolved into monophenols during fermentation. Compared to undigested samples, the activity of ABTS⋅+-SA and reducing power capacity (RP-CA) after the final intestinal digestion decreased and ranged 387.44–531.89 VCμg/mL, 650.95–981.63 VCμg/mL, respectively (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, SOD activity on the 10th day of fermentation were still remained 222.82 U/mL, 206.98 U/mL and 217.23 U/mL, respectively. These results suggested that the fermented kiwifruit extract could exhibit antioxidant activity through tolerance to the digestive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]