Liaison of phenolic acids and biological activity of escalating cultivars of Daucus carota

The objective of the present study was to analyze and compare the phenolic compounds and their antioxidant capacities of new lines of Dacus carota. The selected cultivars showed high variation in the contents of total phenolics (30.26–65.39 mg/100 g FW) and total ascorbic acid (41.12–58.36 mg/100 g FW). Analysis on RP-HPLC revealed that hydroxycinnamic acids and its derivatives were major phenolic compounds present in D. carota extracts, whereas 5-caffeolquinic acid was a major hydroxycinnamic acid (ranged from 30.26 to 65.39 mg/100 g FW). DCP cultivar showed high total antioxidant capacity (77.69 mg/100 g), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity (52.36 mg/100 g), superoxide radical scavenging capacity (53.69 mg/100 g), and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (51.91 mg/100 g). A linear relationship was found between total phenolic acid contents and antioxidant capacity. Both phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities varied significantly (ρ < 0.05) among cultivars. DCP cultivar was found to be a rich source of phenolics and ascorbic acid with high antioxidant activity.     

Comparison of phenolic compound contents and antioxidant capacities of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruits

The characteristics, phenolic compound contants, and antioxidant capacities of 6 cultivars of loquat fruit grown in China were evaluated. HPLC was used to identify and quantify phenolics. Chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, ellagic acid, and o-coumaric acid were the main phenolic compounds of mature loquat fruits. Contents of chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and o-coumaric acid were all significantly correlated with antioxidant capacities determined using DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays. The ‘Taxiahong’ cultivar contained the highest amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids and the highest antioxidant capacity, while ‘Taipingbai’ showed the lowest. The high level of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities of some cultivars indicates that these cultivars can be sources of bioactive compounds that are relevant to human health.     

Natural volatile treatments increase free‐radical scavenging capacity of strawberries and blackberries

Free‐radical scavenging capacities of strawberries and blackberries treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea‐tree oil or TTO), and ethanol (EtOH) were investigated. All of these natural volatiles tested reduced the severity of decay in both strawberries and blackberries during storage at 10 °C as compared to the control. Most of these compounds enhanced antioxidant capacity and free‐radical scavenging capacity, except the AITC treatment. The MJ treatment for strawberries and blackberries had the highest antioxidant capacity, expressed as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values, after 7 days of storage. Moreover, the MJ treatment promoted the antioxidant capacity in strawberries and blackberries as measured by the radical 2,2‐di (4‐tert‐octylphenyl) ‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the radical cation 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS^?+) scavenging activity in both 7 and 14 days after storage. The MJ treatment also increased scavenging capacities on the superoxide radical (O₂^??), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydroxyl radical (^?OH), and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in strawberries and blackberries. Treatment with TTO or EtOH enhanced most of these free‐radical scavenging capacities, except for H₂O₂ in strawberries, and for O₂^?? and ¹O₂ in blackberries. These results indicated that all of the natural volatile compounds tested in this study, except AITC, promoted the antioxidant capacity and scavenging capacity of most major free radicals and, thus, helped to improve the physiology of berry fruits and enhanced their resistance to decay. While AITC was also very effective in reducing decay, its effect on free‐radical scavenging capacity was inconsistent, suggesting that additional mechanisms may be involved in its inhibition of fungal growth. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pomological features, nutritional quality, polyphenol content analysis, and antioxidant properties of domesticated and 3 wild ecotype forms of raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.)

Abstract: The raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is an economically important berry crop that contains many phenolic compounds with potential health benefits. In this study, important pomological features, including nutrient content and antioxidant properties, of a domesticated and 3 wild (Yayla, Yavuzlar, and Yedigöl) raspberry fruits were evaluated. Also, the amount of total phenolics and flavonoids in lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits were calculated as gallic acid equivalents (GAEs) and quercetin equivalents (QE). The highest phenolic compounds were found in wild Yayla ecotype (26.66 ± 3.26 GAE/mg extract). Whilst, the highest flavonoids were determined in wild Yedigöl ecotype (6.09 ± 1.21 QA/mg extract). The antioxidant activity of lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits were investigated as trolox equivalents using different in vitro assays including DPPH^?, ABTS^?+, DMPD^?+, and O^??₂ radical scavenging activities, H₂O₂ scavenging activity, ferric (Fe³⁺) and cupric ions (Cu²⁺) reducing abilities, ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) chelating activity. In addition, quantitative amounts of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, ellagic acid, quercetin, α‐tocopherol, pyrogallol, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin, p‐coumaric acid, gallic acid, and ascorbic acid in lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits were detected by high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS‐MS). The results clearly show that p‐coumaric acid is the main phenolic acid responsible for the antioxidant and radical scavenging activity of lyophilized aqueous extracts of domesticated and wild ecotypes of raspberry fruits.     

Rye and Wheat Bran Extracts Isolated with Pressurized Solvents Increase Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Potential of Beef Meat Hamburgers

Rye and wheat bran extracts containing phenolic compounds and demonstrating high DPPH? (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl), ABTS^?+ (2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) scavenging and oxygen radical absorbance capacities (ORAC) were tested in beef hamburgers as possible functional ingredients. Bran extracts significantly increased the indicators of antioxidant potential of meat products and their global antioxidant response (GAR) during physiological in vitro digestion. The extracts also inhibited the formation of oxidation products, hexanal and malondialdehyde, of hamburgers during their storage; however, they did not have significant effect on the growth of microorganisms. Hamburgers with 0.8% wheat bran extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential. Some effects of bran extracts on other quality characteristics such as pH, color, formation of metmyoglobin were also observed, however, these effects did not have negative influence on the overall sensory evaluation score of hamburgers. Consequently, the use of bran extracts in meat products may be considered as promising means of increasing oxidative product stability and enriching with functional ingredients which might possess health benefits.     

平欧榛子活性成分含量及抗氧化性比较

榛子中含有多种生物活性成分,不同品种、不同利用部位榛子的活性成分含量存在差异。以8个抗寒优良品种平欧榛子为原料,分别测定其种壳、种皮和种仁中总多酚、总黄酮、单宁及原花青素含量并对种皮中总多酚的抗氧化性进行评价。活性成分含量比较结果表明:种皮中各活性成分含量均显著高于种壳和种仁(P0.05);其中7#品种种皮总多酚含量最高,为185.76 mg/g;6#品种种皮总黄酮、单宁含量均为最高,分别为29.961、3 9.1 0 mg/g;7#品种原花青素含量最高,为7 7.2 8 mg/g;并且种皮中总多酚含量远高于其他3种活性成分(P0.05)。8种平欧榛子种皮总多酚的抗氧化性研究表明:综合考虑了不同质量浓度的处理效果,发现7#平欧榛子种皮总多酚抗氧化性效果强于其他品种,对1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl,DPPH)自由基清除率可达87.70%,对铁离子还原力为0.450,对超氧阴离子自由基清除率可达53.1%,对脂质过氧化的抑制率达到82.0%。种皮超氧阴离子自由基清除能力、DPPH自由基清除力、抑制脂质过氧化能力、对铁离子的还原能力与总多酚含量之间呈正相关,相关系数分别为0.843、0.793、0.695、0.620。     

Effect of apple cultivar and enzyme treatment on phenolic compounds content during clear apple juice production

The aim of the investigation was evaluation of phenolic compounds content, measured by HPLC method at selected stages of clear apple juice production with pectolytic mash enzymation from ‘Shampion’ and ‘Idared’ apples. Sum of phenolic compounds in ‘Shampion’ mash was significantly higher than in ‘Idared’ mash, 520 and 352 mg kg^?1, respectively. Enzymation of ‘Idared’ mash resulted in a higher phenolic compounds decrease compared to ‘Shampion’, 23% and 14% respectively. Sum of phenolics in juices from ‘Shampion’ for Panzym at 50 °C (366 mg kg^?1) was significantly higher than in juices from ‘Shampion’ for Rohapect at 20 °C and ‘Idared’ for Panzym at 50 °C (256 and 234 mg kg^?1, respectively). The lowest phenolics (95 mg kg^?1) was in juices from ‘Idared’ for Rohapect at 20 °C. There was a positive correlation (R² = 0.933) between phenolics content and antioxidant activity of juices (ABTS^?+). In general, enzymation at 50 °C with Panzym lead to a higher content of the phenolic compounds in juices compared to Rohapect at 20 °C.     

Phytochemical constituents and antioxidant capacity of different pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] cultivars

Six pecan cultivars were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity (AC), total phenolics (TP), condensed tannin (CT), HPLC phenolic profile, tocopherol and fatty acid composition. Kernels which included the outer brown testa or pellicle, and shells which is the hard cover that surrounds the kernel, were evaluated for each cultivar. Strong correlations were found in kernels between AC and TP for both DPPH (r² = 0.98) and AC_ORAC (r² = 0.75) antioxidant assays. AC_ORAC values ranged from 372 to 817 μmol trolox equivalents/g defatted kernel, corresponding to Desirable and Kanza cultivars, respectively. CT ranged from 23 to 47 mg catechin equivalents/g defatted kernel and TP from 62 to 106 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalents/g defatted kernel. After a consecutive basic-acid hydrolysis, gallic acid, ellagic acid, catechin and epicatechin were identified by HPLC. The TP, AC and CT were 6, 4.5 and 18 times higher, respectively, for shells compared to kernels. The presence of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant capacity in kernels and shells indicates pecans can be considered an important dietary source of antioxidants.     

Antioxidant activity and DNA protection against oxidative damage of bambara groundnut seeds (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) as affected by processing methods

This research investigated the effects of processing by dry heating, boiling, and steaming on the antioxidant activity and DNA protection against oxidative damage of bambara groundnut seeds (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.). Comparing raw and processed samples of bambara groundnut seeds, dry heating caused a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating activity, DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ radical scavenging activity. The boiling process did not cause a significant difference in FRAP and metal chelating activity and caused smaller losses in DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ radical scavenging activity than the dry heating and steaming processes. The steaming process caused a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of FRAP, DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ radical scavenging activity. For DNA protection against oxidative damage, boiled and steamed bambara groundnut seed samples were more effective with a lower minimum concentration (50 µg/mL) than raw and dry heated samples. These results indicated that the boiling process caused smaller losses antioxidant activity than dry heating and steaming. Therefore, boiling was recommended as processing method for bambara groundnut seeds to preserve antioxidant components and antioxidant activity.     

Comparison of composition and antioxidant capacity of some cereals and pseudocereals

Polyphenols, phenolic acids, fibres and antioxidant capacity were determined in water, acetone and methanol extracts of buckwheat, rice, soybean, quinoa and 3 amaranth cultivars. Their antioxidant activities were comparatively assessed by total radical‐trapping antioxidative potential (TRAP), ferric ion‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric‐reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and nitric oxide (NO^?) assays, which comprised of contributions from polyphenols and phenolic acids (especially from the most abundant ferulic acid). The correlation coefficients between polyphenols and antioxidant activities of cereal and pseudocereal methanol extracts with FRAP, NO^?, CUPRAC and TRAP were 0.99, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.77, respectively. The weakest correlation was with dietary fibres, an average one exhibited with tannins and marked correlation was shown with the phenolics. All the applied methods have shown that pseudocereals have higher antioxidant activity than some cereals (rice and buckwheat) and can be successfully replaced by cereals in case of allergy.     

Antioxidant activity of Potentilla fruticosa

The molecular structures of the radical scavenging compounds present in extracts of Potentilla fruticosa blossoms were elucidated and the antioxidant activities of various extracts were determined. The activities of the different fractions were monitored by off‐line and on‐line RP‐HPLC DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ scavenging methods. Twelve compounds were isolated and identified, namely ellagic acid, catechin, quercetin‐3‐β‐glucopyranoside, quercetin‐3‐β‐galactopyranoside, quercetin‐3‐β‐rutinoside, quercetin‐3‐β‐glucuronopyranoside, quercetin‐3‐α‐arabinofuranoside, kaempferol‐3‐β‐rutinoside, kaempferol‐3‐O‐β‐(6″‐O‐(E)‐p‐coumaroyl)glucopyranoside, rhamnetin‐3‐β‐glucopyranoside and rhamnetin‐3‐β‐galactopyranoside. The radical scavenging activity of each isolated compound was measured using DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ assays and compared with the activity of rosmarinic acid. Catechin and ellagic acid were found to be the most active radical scavengers. The antioxidant properties of plant fractions were assessed in model systems by measuring superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide scavenging, β‐carotene bleaching, hexanal production in edible oil, peroxide formation, and the increase in UV absorbance in the course of oxidation. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Different Extraction Media on Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Capacity of Defatted Dabai (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canarium odontophyllum</Emphasis>) Fruit

Dabai (Canarium odontophyllum) is a potential “functional fruit”. Future commercialization of dabai fat as healthy oil may result in the accumulation of defatted dabai as a by-product. This study was carried out to determine the total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of defatted dabai parts as a new source of functional food and nutraceutical ingredient. In this study, defatted dabai parts were extracted using different extraction media (methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, acetone, and water) and analyzed for total phenolics, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity (ABTS⁺ radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays) using spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. Major phenolics in defatted dabai peel extracted using methanol were catechin and epigallocatechin while in water extract, major phenolic acid was ellagic acid. Defatted dabai peel also had higher anthocyanidin content than its pulp. The peel of a defatted dabai fruit extracted using methanol contained a high total phenolics and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). Ethyl acetate extract of defatted dabai parts had the least phenolics compared in ethanol and acetone extracts. Higher total phenolics and TEAC values were observed in water extract of a defatted dabai peel than ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate extracts. Hence, methanol extract of a defatted dabai peel could probably be used as a natural antioxidant.     

Antioxidant properties of resveratrol: A structure–activity insight

Resveratrol, a natural product, is known to affect a broad range of intracellular mediators. In the present study, we clarified the antioxidant activity of resveratrol by employing various in vitro antioxidant assays such as DPPH?, ABTS^?+, DMPD^?+, O₂^?? and H₂O₂ scavenging activities, total antioxidant activity, reducing abilities, and Fe²⁺ chelating activities. Resveratrol inhibited 89.1% of the lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at 30 µg/mL concentration. On the other hand, BHA, BHT, α-tocopherol, and trolox exhibited inhibitions of 83.3, 82.1, 68.1, and 81.3% against peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at the same concentration, respectively. In addition, resveratrol had effective DPPH?, ABTS^?+, DMPD^?+, O₂^?? and H₂O₂ scavenging activities, reducing power, and Fe²⁺ chelating activities. The present study found that resveratrol had effective in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. It can be used in pharmacological and food industry due to its antioxidant properties.Industrial relevanceAntioxidants are often added to foods to prevent the radical chain reactions of oxidation and they act by inhibiting the initiation and propagation step leading to the termination of the reaction and delay the oxidation process. At the present time, the most commonly used antioxidants are BHA, BHT, propylgallate and tert-butyl hydroquinone. Besides that BHA and BHT are restricted by legislative rules because of doubts over their toxic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest on natural and safer antioxidants in food applications, and a growing trend in consumer preferences for natural antioxidants, all of which has given more impetus to explore natural sources of antioxidants. A variety of foods and beverages of vegetable origin contain several nonflavonoid classes of phenolic compounds synthesized by plants. Among them, resveratrol has been identified as the major active compound of stilbene phytoalexins and is presumed to be beneficial for human health. Resveratrol is naturally occurring in the fruits and leaves of edible plants, peanuts, mulberries, grapes and red wine. Resveratrol is currently in the limelight all over the world due to their beneficial effects on the human body. Resveratrol can be used for minimizing or preventing lipid oxidation in pharmaceutical products, retarding the formation of toxic oxidation products, maintaining nutritional quality and prolonging the shelf life of food products and pharmaceuticals instead of BHA and BHT and other antioxidant compounds because of their safer usage.     

Broccoli seed extracts but not sulforaphane have strong free radical scavenging activities

The abilities of broccoli seed extracts and purified sulforaphane (SF) to scavenge 2,2′‐azinobis [3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonate] (ABTS^?+), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) and superoxide anions were studied. The free radical scavenging activities of broccoli seed extracts had no exact correlation with SF content, indicating that SF was not the main antioxidant component. The broccoli seed extracts were separated by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography to obtain purified SF, which showed dose‐dependent free radical scavenging activities in the DPPH^? and ABTS^?+ assays, but its activities were weaker to those of ascorbic acid. The same trend was observed in the chemiluminescence assay. The results showed that broccoli seed extracts had strong free radical scavenging activities that were not attributable to SF.     

In vitro antioxidant properties of indigenous underutilized fruits

In the present study, in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity of methanol extracts from 10 underutilized fruits viz., Syzygium cumini, Murraya koenigii, Coccinia grandis, Opuntia dillenii, Carissa carandus, Kirganalia reticulata, Canthium parviflorum, Lantana camara, Alangium lamarckii, and Morus alba were evaluated using established in vitro models such as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH^•), 2,2′azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), hydroxyl radical (OH^•), nitric oxide radical (NO^•), super oxide radical (O₂^{• −}) scavenging, and metal chelating activities. All the fruit extracts contained substantial concentration of total phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids. The extracts of O. dillenii, M. koenigii, K. reticulata, L. camara, and M. alba registered higher activity in DPPH^•, ABTS^{• +}, and FRAP assays. Phenolic content of these fruits is significantly correlated with antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, all the extracts showed considerable nitric oxide, super oxide, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities in a dose dependant manner when compared with the standard butylatedhydroxyl anisole (BHA). Our findings revealed that these underutilized fruits have potential as good sources of natural antioxidant/nutraceutical compounds.     

Extraction of natural antioxidants from hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) shell and skin wastes by long maceration at room temperature

The feasibility of obtaining antioxidant phenolic extracts from hazelnut by-products was investigated by long maceration at room temperature. The hard shells and defatted skins of both whole and chopped roasted hazelnut kernels were studied. Three solvent systems were employed and these included aqueous methanol, ethanol and acetone. Extraction yields as well as phenolic contents varied according to the by-product and the solvent used. Among the studied samples, the skin of whole roasted hazelnuts gave remarkably high extraction yields (about 30%) and extracts with the richest phenolic content (up to 502 mg/g, expressed as gallic acid equivalents).

Extracts were screened for antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidation of linoleic acid in vitro model systems. The extracts from the skin of whole roasted hazelnuts manifested the strongest antioxidant activity, similar or superior to butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) and -tocopherol, at equivalent concentrations. The presence of hazelnut fragments in the skin residue lowered the yield and the antioxidant activity of the extract. All the extracts were found to be very rich in tannins.     

Total phenolic contents and antioxidant properties of commonly consumed vegetables grown in Colorado

A total of 38 commonly consumed vegetable samples, including 3 kale, 1 rhubarb, 3 spinach, 3 broccoli, 2 green bean, 5 carrot, 10 tomato, and 11 potato samples, were investigated for their total phenolic contents (TPC) and antioxidant properties. The measured antioxidant properties included free radical scavenging activities against DPPH, superoxide anion radical (O₂⁻), ABTS⁺ and peroxyl radical, and Fe²⁺ chelating capacity. The tested vegetables differed in their antioxidant properties and TPC, although all vegetables had significant antioxidant activities and contained significant levels of phenolics. The TPC and the measured antioxidant properties were correlated to each other. The Fe⁺² chelating capacity and the scavenging capacities against ABTS⁺, DPPH and O₂⁻ were reported for these commonly consumed vegetables for the first time. Results from this study suggest that kale, spinach, broccoli, and rhubarb are the better dietary sources of natural antioxidant activities and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, kale, broccoli and spinach produced in Colorado may have greater antioxidant contents than those grown at other locations.     

Influence of thermal treatment on phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of oak acorns from Serbia

The aim of the present work was to investigate and compare phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of Quercus robur and Quercus cerris acorn kernels obtained before and after thermal treatment. Content of total phenolics, tannins, non-tannin phenolics and flavonoids was determined spectrophotometrically and content of gallic acid with HPLC. Antioxidant activity of the samples was assayed through FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), DPPH scavenging test and inhibition of Fe²⁺/ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation. Extracts of native and thermally treated kernels showed high antioxidant activity, with extracts of thermally treated kernels being more active than extracts of native ones. Hydrolysable tannins and gallic acid were identified in all samples. Non-tannin phenolics, including gallic acid, were present in significantly higher quantities in thermally treated samples, whilst tannin content decreased. This indicates that during thermal treatment hydrolysable tannins were degraded. As the result of this degradation and consequent increase of non-tannin phenolics content, and amongst them especially gallic acid, thermally treated samples possess higher antioxidant activity than do the native ones. The obtained results have provided further grounds for establishing Q. robur and Q. cerris acorn kernels as a source for functional food preparation.     

Phenolic composition and antioxidant capacities of ten Algerian date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars: A comparative study

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities of ten Algerian date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars were investigated. The total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol and condensed tannin contents of the different cultivars were measured using colorimetric methods. Free phenolic acid and flavonoid profiles of the date cultivars were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), while antioxidant capacities were evaluated in vitro using scavenging assays of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and hydrogen peroxide, ferric reducing power, and ferrous ion chelating ability. The results showed that the cultivars exerted different antioxidant capacities, and had different phenolic acid and flavonoid patterns. Among the tested cultivars, Ghazi, Arechti and Sebt Mira possessed the strongest antioxidant capacities and the highest phenolic contents. Four phenolic acids (gallic, ferulic, coumaric and caffeic acids) and five flavonoids (isoquercetrin, quercetrin, rutin, quercetin and luteolin) were identified and quantified.