Optimized Drying of Kaprow Leaves for Industrial Production of Holy Basil Spice Powder

The present study investigated the changes in color, volatile compounds, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity of two holy basil leaves (kaprow in Thai) Ocimum sanctum L. cultivars, kaprow khao and kaprow daeng, after three drying treatments, namely hot air (HA), low relative humidity air drying (LRH), and far-infrared radiation (FIR). Overall, HA dried showed a greater decrease in L values than did LRH and FIR dried for both kaprow cultivars. A significant decrease in total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was found in hot-air (HA) dried compared to fresh leaves, while TPC, TFC, and FRAP in LRH and FIR dried kaprow were significantly increased. Kaprow daeng and kaprow khao attributes represented by such compounds as β-caryophyllene, methyl eugenol, and eugenol were found to increase during drying. We found that eugenol was a major volatile compound ranging from 18% in HA dried to 23% in FIR dried samples in kaprow khao, whereas methyl eugenol was the main volatile compound in kaprow daeng ranging from 35% in fresh to 49% in FIR dried samples. Our results have demonstrated that LRH and FIR should be considered as a suitable drying method for kaprow with respect to preserving its color, antioxidant property, phenolic compounds, and volatile compounds. The present study has provided useful information for industrial use of kaprow powder production.     

Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of Mulberry Leaves Depend on Cultivar and Harvest Month in Southern China

To elucidate the effects of cultivar and harvest month on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves, four major phenolics, including chlorogenic acid (ChA), benzoic acid (BeA), rutin (Rut) and astragalin (Ast), were quantified using an HPLC-UV method. Leaves from six mulberry cultivars, collected from April to October, were analyzed. The antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves was assessed by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HSA) and superoxide radical scavenging activity (SSA) assays. The results showed that the total values of the four phenolic compounds ranged from 2.3 dry weight (DW) to 4.2 mg/g DW, with ChA being the major compound. The mean total phenol (TP) content of the six cultivars ranged from 30.4 equivalents (GAE) mg/g DW to 44.7 GAE mg/g DW. Mulberry leaves harvested in May had the highest TP content. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of mulberry leaves harvested from April to October differed noticeably. In general, Kq 10 and May were considered to be a better cultivar and harvest month concerning phenolic content and antioxidant activity, respectively.     

Effect of extraction conditions on total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of pretreated wild Peumus boldus leaves from Chile

We studied the effect of both heat-drying and freeze-drying on the recovery of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and antioxidant capacity from leaves of Peumus boldus Molina (Boldo), an endemic tree of Chile, using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) methods. The results indicated that infusions prepared using commercial boldo tea bags had similar or higher TPCs, DPPH, FRAP and ORAC values in comparison with those of the infusions prepared using heat- or freeze-dried leaves. The extraction experiments showed that hydro-alcoholic mixtures are the best solvents to extract antioxidants from boldo leaves, favoring the use of freeze-dried leaves. Considering the alkaloid profile of the extracts of freeze-dried leaves and herbal tea bags, the latter exhibited higher amounts of the alkaloids tested, including boldine, which is well correlated with the results obtained using the ORAC method. These results indicate a great potential to develop commercial boldo extracts and could encourage improved applications of this endemic Chilean plant.     

Potential of Fruit Wastes as Natural Resources of Bioactive Compounds

Fruit wastes are one of the main sources of municipal waste. In order to explore the potential of fruit wastes as natural resources of bioactive compounds, the antioxidant potency and total phenolic contents (TPC) of lipophilic and hydrophilic components in wastes (peel and seed) of 50 fruits were systematically evaluated. The results showed that different fruit residues had diverse antioxidant potency and the variation was very large. Furthermore, the main bioactive compounds were identified and quantified, and catechin, cyanidin 3-glucoside, epicatechin, galangin, gallic acid, homogentisic acid, kaempferol, and chlorogenic acid were widely found in these residues. Especially, the values of ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and TPC in the residues were higher than in pulps. The results showed that fruit residues could be inexpensive and readily available resources of bioactive compounds for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Antioxidant Activities and Phenolic Compositions of Wheat Germ as Affected by the Roasting Process

Wheat germ is a good source for wheat germ oil, and it is a by‐product with highly concentrated nutrients from the wheat flour‐milling industries. In the present study, raw wheat germ was firstly heat‐treated at 180 °C for 20 min in a fluidized bed dryer, and further roasted at 180 °C for different periods of time. Roasting influence on total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activities, and phenolic compositions of wheat germ were evaluated. The roasting process significantly increased the TPC and antioxidant activities including free radical scavenging against DPPH and ABTS radicals, FRAP, and ORAC. In particular, the wheat germ roasted at 180 °C for 20 min showed higher antioxidant activity than those roasted at 180 °C for 5 and 10 min. Three major phenolic acids, namely, ferulic, chlorogenic, and caffeic acid, and four main flavonoids, namely, schaftoside and its isomers or adduct of sinapic acid were identified by HPLC. In general, the content of individual phenolic compounds decreased with prolongation of the roasting time except for ferulic acid. The results suggest that the antioxidant activities of wheat germ can be enhanced by roasting, and the enhancement effect might be partially attributed to the formation of Maillard reaction products (MRP).     

Effect of Different Drying Methods on the Microwave Extraction of Phenolic Components and Antioxidant Activity of Highbush Blueberry Leaves

In the last few decades, researchers have found blueberry leaves to be an interesting source of different phenolic compounds, and drying is an important part of their postharvest and sample preparation processes. In the current study, blueberry leaves were dried using microwave-assisted hot air drying or hot air drying alone at 45, 60, and 75°C to 10–15% wet basis. Corresponding drying characteristics were determined by fitting the moisture ratio obtained in each case with eight theoretical and semitheoretical models for hot air and microwave drying stages. It was observed that best fitting drying models for blueberry leaves depended not only on the nature of the biomaterial but also on the method of drying and the temperature of drying. Phenolic content, monomeric anthocyanin content, and the corresponding antioxidant activity in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition activity and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) activity were evaluated for the leaf extract obtained following microwave extraction of the dried samples obtained using the above-mentioned drying methods and were compared to the corresponding bioactive compositional characteristics of freeze-dried blueberry leaves. It was observed that the freeze-dried sample had the highest content of total phenolics and total monomeric anthocyanins along with high antioxidant activity. Furthermore, extracts obtained from the microwave-dried leaf samples obtained with a drying temperature of 60°C had highest total phenolic content and highest total monomeric anthocyanin content among all other drying methods and the extract had an antioxidant activity similar to the freeze-dried blueberry leaf samples, implying that microwave drying at 60°C is a potential alternative to freeze drying for preservation of the phenolic components and antioxidant activity of dried blueberry leaves.     

Total Phenolics of Virgin Olive Oils Highly Correlate with the Hydrogen Atom Transfer Mechanism of Antioxidant Capacity

Polar extracts of extra‐virgin olive oils (EVOO) contain a large number of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. The antioxidant capacity can be measured by different reaction mechanisms, as the single electron transfer (SET) or the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC) by the Folin‐Ciocalteu method and its correlation with four antioxidant capacity assays (FRAP, ABTS, DPPH^? and ORAC) were evaluated for EVOO polar extracts. It was observed that the higher the total phenolic compounds in the EVOO extracts, the higher the antioxidant capacities, regardless of the method employed. The reaction mechanism observed for TPC by Folin‐Ciocalteu method and also for FRAP, ABTS and DPPH^? antioxidant capacity assays is a single electron transfer, thus, a high correlation among their results is expected. However, the correlation between TPC and ORAC results was also high and significant, allowing to conclude that EVOO phenolic compounds are able to react by the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism, which indicates that they can act as effective radical chain‐breaking antioxidants. These results suggest that, for the EVOO polar extracts, TPC by Folin‐Ciocalteu and ORAC assays could be sufficient to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant capacity.     

Microwave-assisted extraction as an advanced technique for optimization of saponin yield and antioxidant potential from Phyllanthus amarus

The objective of this study was to apply microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) as an advanced technique for optimization of saponin yield and antioxidant potential from Phyllanthus amarus. The findings indicated that the optimal MAE parameters consisted of 100% methanol, irradiation time 4 s/min, extraction time 50 min, and solvent to sample ratio 50 mL/g. Under these optimal parameters, saponin content (SC), saponin extraction efficiency (SEE), and total phenolic content (TPC) of P. amarus were 229.5 mg escin equivalents (EEs)/g dried sample, 82.8%, and 40.7 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g dried sample, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of P. amarus in terms of 2,2ˊ-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging capacity (ARSC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil radical scavenging capacity (DRSC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were 487.3, 330.6, and 233.5 mg trolox equivalents (TEs)/g dried sample, respectively. These measured values were not significantly different from the predicted values by response surface methodology (227.9 mg EE/g dried sample, 82.1%, and 39.2 mg GAE/g dried sample for SC, SEE, and TPC and 484.8, 297.3, and 226.6 mg TE/g dried sample for ARSC, DRSC, and FRAP, respectively). Hence, the optimal MAE parameters are suggested for effective extraction of saponins from P. amarus for further investigations and applications.     

Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Monovarietal Olive Oils Produced in Argentina

Virgin olive oil has high levels of phenolic compounds that are highly bioavailable; these compounds are receiving considerable attention for their antioxidant activity, closely related to the prevention of non‐communicable chronic diseases. The aim of this work was to characterize the phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of monovarietal olive oils cvs. Arauco, Arbequina, Farga and Empeltre produced in Argentina. This study focused on the relationship between the single molecules or classes of molecules quantified by SPE‐CZE, the corresponding Folin‐Ciocalteu results, and antioxidant capacity using three different tests. Fifteen compounds were simultaneously determined: tyrosol, vinylphenol, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, rutin, catechin, naringenin, cinnamic acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, luteolin, apigenin, vanillin acid, quercetin, and caffeic acid. The phenolic contents of the monovarietal olive oils show significant differences between different varieties (p < 0.05), with positive and significant Pearson's correlation found between Folin–Ciocalteu and CZE. Besides, the correlation between the content of total polyphenols and antioxidant capacity was high for all the antioxidant assays performed. When analyzing the correlation coefficients of the different families of phenolic compounds studied, simple phenols and cinnamic acid derivatives show a higher correlation with antioxidant capacity. Thus, findings obtained in this study demonstrated that Arauco olive oil, autochthonous for Argentina, possesses the highest antioxidant/free‐radical scavenging properties, which are very likely due to the presence of high contents of phenolic compounds.     

Distribution and Antioxidant Activities of Free,Conjugated, and Insoluble-Bound Phenolics from Seven Species of the Genus Camellia

Free phenolic (FP), conjugated phenolic (CP), and insoluble-bound phenolic (IBP) acids were extracted from the seeds of seven species of oil-tea camellia and their antioxidant activities were evaluated. The results indicated that Camellia vietnamensis has the highest total phenolic content (TPC) (31.84 ± 0.11 g of gallic acid equivalent [GAE] kg⁻¹) and that Camellia polyodontia has the lowest TPC (12.34 ± 0.22 g GAE kg⁻¹) in the kernel. The average TPC among the species is similar in both the kernels and in the shells, and the content order of the three forms of phenolic compounds is FP > IBP > CP. HPLC-MS analysis showed the presence of 9–11 phenolic compounds in the FP, CP, or IBP extracts of the seven species of oil-tea camellia seed. Among the phenolics identified, ferulic acid, catechin, and epicatechin were the major contributors of antioxidant activity. Hierarchical cluster analysis conducted based on the phenolic properties showed that C. vietnamensis and Camellia semiserrata belong to the group characterized by high antioxidant capacities (FRAP, ferric-ion-reducing antioxidant power; ABTS assay), and Camellia chekiangoleosa and Camellia oleifera are arranged in a group with moderate phenolic properties. The other species constitute the third cluster with low phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The study demonstrated that oil-tea camellia seed contains significant amounts of phenolic acids. In addition, extracts from various parts of the seed could be interesting novel sources of natural antioxidants.     

Effect of maturity on phenolics (phenolic acids and flavonoids) profile of strawberry cultivars and mulberry species from pakistan

In this study, we investigated how the extent of ripeness affects the yield of extract, total phenolics, total flavonoids, individual flavonols and phenolic acids in strawberry and mulberry cultivars from Pakistan. In strawberry, the yield of extract (%), total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) ranged from 8.5-53.3%, 491-1884 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g DW and 83-327 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/100 g DW, respectively. For the different species of mulberry the yield of extract (%), total phenolics and total flavonoids of 6.9-54.0%, 201-2287 mg GAE/100 g DW and 110-1021 mg CE/100 g DW, respectively, varied significantly as fruit maturity progressed. The amounts of individual flavonols and phenolic acid in selected berry fruits were analyzed by RP-HPLC. Among the flavonols, the content of myricetin was found to be high in Morus alba (88 mg/100 g DW), the amount of quercetin as high in Morus laevigata (145 mg/100 g DW) while kaempferol was highest in the Korona strawberry (98 mg/100 g DW) at fully ripened stage. Of the six phenolic acids detected, p-hydroxybenzoic and p-coumaric acid were the major compounds in the strawberry. M. laevigata and M. nigra contained p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid while M. macroura and M. alba contained p-hydroxy-benzoic acid and chlorogenic acid as the major phenolic acids. Overall, a trend to an increase in the percentage of extraction yield, TPC, TFC, flavonols and phenolic acids was observed as maturity progressed from un-ripened to fully-ripened stages.     

Seasonal Variations of the Antioxidant Composition in Ground Bamboo Sasa argenteastriatus Leaves

Sasa argenteastriatus, with abundant active compounds and high antioxidant activity in leaves, is a new leafy bamboo grove suitable for exploitation. To utilize it more effectively and scientifically, we investigate the seasonal variations of antioxidant composition in its leaves and antioxidant activity. The leaves of Sasa argenteastriatus were collected on the 5th day of each month in three same-sized sample plots from May 2009 to May 2011. The total flavonoids (TF): phenolics (TP) and triterpenoid (TT) of bamboo leaves were extracted and the contents analyzed by UV-spectrophotometer. Our data showed that all exhibited variations with the changing seasons, with the highest levels appearing in November to March. Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and FRAP methods. The highest antioxidant activity appeared in December with the lowest in May. Correlation analyses demonstrated that TP and TF exhibited high correlation with bamboo antioxidant activity. Eight bamboo characteristic compounds (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, homovitexin and p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid) were determined by RP-HPLC synchronously. We found that chlorogenic acid, isoorientin and vitexin are the main compounds in Sasa argenteastriatus leaves and the content of isovitexin and chlorogenic acid showed a similar seasonal variation with the TF, TP and TT. Our results suggested that the optimum season for harvesting Sasa argenteastriatus leaves is between autumn and winter.     

Effect of freeze-drying on the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity of selected tropical fruits

The effects of freeze-drying on antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity of five tropical fruits, namely starfruit (Averrhoa carambola L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.), and watermelon Citruluss lanatus (Thunb.) were investigated. Significant (p < 0.05) differences, for the amounts of total phenolic compounds (TPC), were found between the fresh and freeze-dried fruit samples, except muskmelon. There was no significant (p > 0.05) change, however, observed in the ascorbic acid content of the fresh and freeze-dried fruits. Similarly, freeze-drying did not exert any considerable effect on β-carotene concentration of fruits, except for mango and watermelon, where significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels were detected in the fresh samples. The results of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and reducing power assays revealed that fresh samples of starfruit and mango had relatively higher antioxidant activity. In case of linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition measurement, a significant (p < 0.05) but random variation was recorded between the fresh and freeze-dried fruits. Overall, in comparison to β-carotene and ascorbic acid, a good correlation was established between the result of TPC and antioxidant assays, indicating that phenolics might have been the dominant compounds contributing towards the antioxidant activity of the fruits tested.     

Plant Phenolics as Dietary Antioxidants for Herbivorous Insects: A Test with Genetically Modified Tobacco

High foliar phenolics are generally assumed to increase resistance to insect herbivores, but recent studies show that tobacco lines modified to over– and underexpress phenolics do not exhibit higher constitutive resistance to caterpillars. This is contrary to the expectation that ingestion of tobacco phenolics, particularly chlorogenic acid, should cause oxidative stress in herbivores. We investigated free radical production and antioxidant capacity of fresh crushed leaves of tobacco lines exhibiting over a sixfold difference in chlorogenic acid content to test whether high phenolic concentrations are associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effects of in planta phenolic levels on feeding behavior, growth, biochemical markers of oxidative stress, and the antioxidant capacity of midgut fluid and hemolymph were assessed in tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens. The experiments showed that high phenolic foliage was more prooxidant than low phenolic foliage, but the net balance in crushed tissue was antioxidant in comparison to buffer and the commercial antioxidant standard, Trolox. In H. virescens, the antioxidant capacity of midgut fluid was also powerful, and caterpillars fed high phenolic foliage did not exhibit the expected markers of oxidative stress in midgut tissues (altered ascorbate ratios, disulfides, or total hydroperoxides). Instead, hemolymph of larvae fed high phenolic foliage exhibited improved total Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). These results suggest that the elevated foliar phenolics in some plants may have beneficial antioxidant properties for herbivorous insects, much as dietary phenolics do in mammals.     

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Olive Leaf Extracts from Greek Olive Cultivars

The olive leaf phenolic composition of the Greek cultivars koroneiki, megaritiki and kalamon was determined using LC/MS. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of olive leaf extracts from the above three cultivars, using solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol and methanol/water: 60/40) was evaluated using the stable free radical diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test. Furthermore the oxidative stability index (OSI) was compared to that of the synthetic antioxidant TBHQ and commercial oleoresin (rosemary extract). The ability of phenolic compounds to inhibit the lipoxygenase (LOX) activity was also investigated. The ten main components determined in the olive tree leaf extracts for the cultivars koroneiki and kalamon were: secologanoside, dimethyloleuropein, oleuropein diglucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, rutin, oleuropein, oleuroside, quercetin, ligstroside and verbascoside. Respective compounds for the cultivar megaritiki were: secologanoside, dimethyloleuropein, oleuropein diglucoside, luteolin7-O-glucoside, oleuropein, oleuroside, quercetin and ligstroside. In all three cultivars, oleuropein represented the main phenolic component. The solvent polarity influenced the total amount of the phenolic compounds determined. When methanol/water (60/40) was used, as solvent, more phenolic compounds were determined. The total amounts of phenols determined in the extracts, obtained by successive extractions using the above solvents, were 6,094, 5,579 and 6,196 mg/kg (mg gallic acid/kg dried olive leaves) for the cultivars megaritiki, kalamon and koroneiki, respectively. Among all extracts, methanol/water extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity as shown through the application of the DPPH and OSI methods. The OSI antioxidant activity followed the sequence: synthetic antioxidant TBHQ > commercial oleoresin > olive tree leaf extracts > control. Likewise, methanol/water olive leaf extracts significantly inhibited soybean lipoxygenase, although some small differences in the activity among the olive leaf extracts of the different cultivars were observed. The solvent polarity as well as the amount of the extract influenced the inhibitory activity. A positive correlation was shown between the antioxidant activity of leaf extracts and the total phenol content.     

Stability of carotenoids, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant capacity of tomatoes during thermal processing

In the present investigation we ascertained the stability of lycopene, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, polyphenolic compounds and total antioxidant capacity (AC) during the process of concentrating tomatoes into two tomato pastes (10 and 15 degrees Brix). Thermal processing increased the content of lycopene, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and the individual phenolic compounds quercetin, rutin, chlorogenic and cafeic acids, whereas it decreased the other analysed compounds. However, lycopene in the 15 degrees Brix-tomato paste decreased due to the extension of thermal processing, which led to degradation. The AC of aqueous and organic extracts was measured and different AC values were observed depending on the antioxidant profile of the extract and assay used (TEAC and FRAP). AC expressed in dry matter decreased as result of ascorbic acid losses. Overall, thermal processing enhanced the nutritional value of tomatoes, mainly by increasing the lycopene and phenolic antioxidants, but the extension of treatment must be controlled to prevent lycopene degradation.     

Antioxidant Capacities and Total Phenolic Contents Enhancement with Acute Gamma Irradiation in Curcuma alismatifolia (Zingiberaceae) Leaves

The present study was conducted in order to assess the effect of various doses of acute gamma irradiation (0, 10, 15, and 20 Gy) on the improvement of bioactive compounds and their antioxidant properties of Curcuma alismatifolia var. Sweet pink. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) analysis uncovered that various types of phenolic, flavonoid compounds, and fatty acids gradually altered in response to radiation doses. On the other hand, antioxidant activities determined by 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reduction, antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assay showed a higher irradiation level significantly increased the antioxidant properties. This study revealed an efficient effect of varying levels of gamma radiation, based on the pharmaceutical demand to enhance the accumulation and distribution of bioactive compounds such as phenolic and flavonoid compounds, fatty acids, as well as their antioxidant activities in the leaves of C. alismatifolia var. Sweet pink.     

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Bilberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium myrtillus</Emphasis>) Leaves in Northern Europe Following Foliar Development and Along Environmental Gradients

Bilberry is a characteristic field layer species in the boreal forests and is an important forage plant for herbivores of the North European ecosystem. Bilberry leaves contain high levels of phenolic compounds, especially hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, catechins, and proanthocyanidins. We investigated the phenolic composition of bilberry leaves in two studies, one following foliar development in forest and open areas, and the other along a wide geographical gradient from south to north boreal forests in Finland. An analysis of bilberry leaves collected in open and forest areas showed that major phenolic changes appeared in the first stages of leaf development, but, most importantly, synthesis and accumulation of flavonoids was delayed in the forest compared to the high light sites. Sampling along a geographical gradient in the boreal zone indicated that leaves from higher latitudes and higher altitudes had greater soluble phenolic and flavonol levels, higher antioxidant capacity, and lower contents of chlorogenic acid derivatives. The ecological significance of the results is discussed.     

Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Capacity in Edible Flowers: Characterisation of Phenolic Compounds by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn

Edible flowers are commonly used in human nutrition and their consumption has increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to ascertain the nutritional composition and the content and profile of phenolic compounds of three edible flowers, monks cress (Tropaeolum majus), marigold (Tagetes erecta) and paracress (Spilanthes oleracea), and to determine the relationship between the presence of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity. Proximate composition, total dietary fibre (TDF) and minerals were analysed according to official methods: total phenolic compounds (TPC) were determined with Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent, whereas antioxidant capacity was evaluated using Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays. In addition, phenolic compounds were characterised by HPLC-DAD-MSⁿ. In relation to the nutritional value, the edible flowers had a composition similar to that of other plant foods, with a high water and TDF content, low protein content and very low proportion of total fat—showing significant differences among samples. The levels of TPC compounds and the antioxidant capacity were significantly higher in T. erecta, followed by S. oleracea and T. majus. Thirty-nine different phenolic compounds were tentatively identified, with flavonols being the major compounds detected in all samples, followed by anthocyanins and hydroxycynnamic acid derivatives. In T. erecta small proportions of gallotannin and ellagic acid were also identified.     

Total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities of herbal and tea infusions

In order to supply new information on the antioxidant function of selected beverages for nutritionists and the general public, total phenolic contents of 51 kinds of herbal and tea infusions made in China were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. A significant correlation between FRAP and TEAC values suggested that antioxidant components in these beverages were capable of reducing oxidants and scavenging free radicals. The high correlation between antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents indicated that phenolic compounds could be one of the main components responsible for antioxidant activities of these beverages. Generally, these beverages had high antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents, and could be important dietary sources of antioxidant phenolics for prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress.