Polyphenols, Ascorbic Acid and Carotenoids Contents and Antioxidant Properties of Habanero Pepper ( Capsicum chinense) Fruit

Abstract

Their high bioactive compounds content and importance as dietary antioxidants has increased interest in Capsicum fruit. The fruit of seven Capsicum chinense Jacq. var. habanero genotypes grown in Yucatan, Mexico, were analyzed to quan-tify their phenolic compounds, carotenoids and ascorbic acid contents, and to measure their free radical scavenging (ABTS assay) and antioxidant activities (ß-carotene/linoleic acid assay). Phenolics (20.54 to 20.75 mg/100 g sample), carotenoids (1.00 to 1.26 mg/100 g sample) and ascorbic acid contents (187.24 to 281.73 mg/100 g sample) varied be-tween genotypes. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) ranged from 1.55 to 3.23 mM/mg sample. During the 120-min decolorization trial, antioxidant capacity decreased over time in the studied genotypes. Values ranged from 36% to 57% ß-carotene bleaching during the first 30 minutes. Fruit from all seven studied genotypes are good antioxi-dant sources and hold promise as natural ingredients in functional foods.