Ancient apple cultivars from Garfagnana (Tuscany, Italy): A potential source for ‘nutrafruit’ production

•Polyphenolic profile was determined by UPLC-MS in ancient Tuscany apple cultivars.•Flavanols and phenolic acids are the most abundant polyphenols in ancient apples.•Procyanidin B1 has the highest correlation with the fruit’s antioxidant capacity.•Phenolic content and antioxidant ability are higher than most cultivated apples.•Ancient apples should be re-evaluated for a “nutrafruit” production. Ancient apple cultivars are known for their organoleptic properties over a small geographic area, but little is known of their nutraceutical properties, which might be useful in large-scale breeding programmes. Nine ancient apple cultivars from Tuscany (Italy) were characterized for their organoleptic properties, phenolic profiles, and antioxidant activity. These cultivars had high polyphenol concentrations (principally flavanols and phenolic acids) and high total antioxidant capacity compared with most commercial apple cultivars. Fruits from the cultivars ‘San Michele’ and ‘Del Debbio’ showed a good compromise between fruit size and solid soluble content, and might be suitable for fresh consumption, while fruit from ‘Benito’, ‘Della Piastra’, ‘Lugliese Grisanti’, ‘Del Sangue’ and ‘Ruggine’ had high polyphenol contents and excellent antioxidant capacity, and may be suitable for breeding programmes. ‘Ruggine’ fruit could also be used for sweet juices with good nutraceutical properties due to their high soluble solid content and high flavanol concentration.