Antioxidant potential of selected vegetables commonly used in diet in Asian subcontinent

Abstract

In the present study eleven different fruits and leaves of commonly used vegetables in diet in Asian subcontinent have been evaluated for antioxidative constituents and free radical scavenging activities. Fifty per cent ethanolic extracts of <i style="">Abelmoschus esculentus </i>(Linn.) Moench (fruits), <i style="">Trigonella foenum-graecum</i> Linn. (leaves), <i style="">Spinacia oleracea</i> Linn. (leaves),<i style=""> Brassica oleracea</i> Linn. var. <i style="">capitata</i> and <i style="">B. oleracea</i> var. <i style="">botrytis</i> (leaves, inflorescence and young stems), <i style="">Coriandrum sativum</i> Linn. (seeds and leaves), <i style="">Capsicum annuum </i>Linn. var. <i style="">grossum</i> (Willd.) Sendt. (fruits), <i style="">Cucurbita maxima</i> Duch. (fruits), <i style="">Cyamopsis tetragonoloba </i>Linn. (fruits), <i style="">Anethum graveolens</i> Linn. (fruits and seeds), <i style="">Solanum melongena</i> Linn. (fruits) were tested for the determination of free radical scavenging potentials and quantification of antioxidant agents such as ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. Amongst the tested vegetables the sample of <i style="">B. oleracea</i> var.<i style=""> botrytis</i> has shown (67.2%) the highest 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine (DPPH radical) scavenging potential while <i style="">B. oleracea</i> var.<i style=""> capitata</i> was found to be the most effective (58.4%) inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. The extract of <i style="">S. oleracea</i> (43.9%) and <i style="">S. melongena</i> (32.8%) were found to be effective in ferrous ion chelating abilities. The maximum amount (25.60mg/100g) of vitamin-C was found in <i style="">A. esculentus</i> while the amount of total phenolics was noted maximum (13.30 mg/g) in <i style="">C. maxima</i>. With some exceptions the activity profiles of all other samples were found to be good to moderate.