Antioxidant potential and phenolic contents of various flaxseed cultivars from different agro-industrial regions

Abstract

This study focuses on the evaluation of antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoids contents of selected flaxseed cultivars, native to Pakistan. Antioxidant activities were determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferric ion reducing ability and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation (LAP). Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using FolinCiocalteu reagent, whereas colorimetric method was used to assess total flavonoids (TF). The TPC, TF, DPPH˚ scavenging activity and LAP were 2560 to 3286 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g, 232.53 to 346.67 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/100g and 63.08 to 86.58%, 65.59 to 84.25%, respectively. Results of the present study revealed that flaxseed cultivars possess varying degree of antioxidant capacity and therefore may be considered as a potent source of natural antioxidants.