Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of tritordeum wheat and barley
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Department of Chemistry, Kamýcka 129, CZ16521, Prague 6, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: eliasovam@af.czu.cz
Abstract:
Whole grains are a source of numerous antioxidant compounds such as phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, lignans and others which are able to scavenge free radicals. Thus cereals seem to be very useful in preventing chronic diseases like metabolic syndrome (obesity, high blood pressure, high blood triglyceride and glucose levels), diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Recently, there has been an increased consumer demand for cereal based foods, especially whole cereals. Such demand provides scope for innovations of which an important one is introduction of a completely new cereal cross called tritordeum. This alternative cereal, which is presented as a good source of health beneficial compounds, was assessed in this study and compared with wheat and barley. The total phenolic content (TPC) and related total antioxidant activity (TAA) were investigated via two spectrophotometric methods using a stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and Folin-Ciocalteau reagent respectively. Both TPC and related TAA values of tritordeum and wheat were similar but were significantly lower compared to barley. Results have also revealed a close relationship between TAA and TPC (R2 = 0.93, p < 0.05), which might suggest that increased antioxidant activity in those grains is caused by phenolic compounds contained in them. Tritordeum seems to represent a new cereal with good prospects; nevertheless more detailed analysis of its health related compounds is required.
Key words:
cereals, DPPH, spectrophotometry, total antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, tritordeum