Comparison between organic and conventional spelt and wheatgrass juice

Abstract

This work is aimed to compare antioxidant and scavenger properties of conventionally and organically produced speltgrass. Moreover, the antioxidant status of spelt was compared with wheatgrass. Three spelt varieties were analyzed:Nirvana, Ebners–Rotkorn variety and Eco-10. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide-dismutase and guiacol-peroxidase, were determined as well as ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH-antiradical power. Total soluble proteins and total phenols were determined and also lipid peroxidation as a parameter of oxidative stress. The organically produced spelt was exposed to the higher levels of oxidative stress than conventionally produced spelt, and also DPPH antiradical power was induced by conventional production, which is also demonstrated using the relative antioxidant capacity index. The best antioxidant properties, better than wheat, showed organically produced spelt genotype Ebners–Rotkorn which is determined by the highest phenol content, superoxide-dismutase activity, DPPH antiradical power and ferric reduced antioxidant power and consequently with the lowest lipid peroxidation intensity.