Abstract

ZAPATA, Sandra; PIEDRAHITA, Ana María  and  ROJANO, Benjamín. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and phenolic content of fruits and vegetables from Colombia. Perspect Nut Hum [online]. 2014, vol.16, n.1, pp.25-36. ISSN 0124-4108.

Background: Fruits and vegetables have a high nutritional and therapeutic potential. It could be explained by presence of different phytochemicals, such as phenolic compounds, which have been associated with antioxidant activity. In order to determine antioxidant capacity in food matrices, one of the most widely used methods is oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Objective: To estimate total phenolic content and ORAC in Colombian fruits and vegetables. Method and materials: Plant material was lyophilized, followed by an extraction process to separate hydrophilic and lipophilic fraction. Total phenolic content was estimated from hydrophilic fraction by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions by ORAC. Results: Total phenolic content varied from 30,5 to 10.584,7 mg/100 g in fruits, and 12,4 to 1.377,2 mg/100 g in vegetables. ORAC values were from 685,7 to 207.850,4 μmol trolox/100 g in fruits, and 372,3 to 32.047,9 μmol trolox/100 g in vegetables. Passion fruit and spinach had better antioxidant properties. Conclusions: Nutraceutical properties of Colombian fruits and vegetables may be explained by phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity.

Keywords : antioxidants; protective agents; phenolic compounds; health food; fruits; vegetables.

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