Comparison of the content of bioactive substances and the inhibitory effects against rat plasma oxidation of conventional and organic hot peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).
The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical compositions and antioxidative activities of hot pepper fruits cultivated with strict management by organic and conventional agricultural practices. The ascorbic acid content in the organically grown hot pepper (OGP) was significantly higher than that of conventionally grown hot pepper (CGP) in both green and red fruits. The content of other bioactive compounds such as flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin) and total phenolics in OGP was typically higher than in CGP regardless of fruit color. In addition, the ABTS(+) radical-scavenging activity of OGP red fruits was significantly higher than that of CGP red fruits. Moreover, regardless of the color of the fruits, a higher antioxidative activity was observed in blood plasma from rats administered the OGP fruit extracts than in blood plasma from rats administered the CGP fruit extracts. It was hypothesized that the higher antioxidant activity of the OGP fruits may have resulted from the higher antioxidant content in the OGP fruits. These results suggest that consumption of pepper fruits may increase antioxidant activity in the blood, and OGP fruits may be more effective in increasing this antioxidant activity than CGP fruits.
Department of Food Science and Technology and Funcitional Food Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
Gwi Deok
GD
Kim
You Seok
YS
Lee
Jeong-Yong
JY
Cho
Young Han
YH
Lee
Kyeong Ju
KJ
Choi
Youn
Y
Lee
Tae-Ho
TH
Han
Sang-Hyun
SH
Lee
Keun-Hyung
KH
Park
Jae-Hak
JH
Moon
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002212:Capsicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D058871:Organic Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001205:Ascorbic Acid