Proximate, mineral composition, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content of some pepper varieties (Capsicum species)

OGUNLADE, I. and ALEBIOSU, A.A. and OSASONA, A. I. (2012) Proximate, mineral composition, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content of some pepper varieties (Capsicum species). International Journal of Biological Chemical Sciences, 6 (5). pp. 1-7. ISSN 1991-8631

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Abstract

Four varieties of the red pepper fruits (Capsicum species) were evaluated for chemical composition, antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents using standard analytical technique, ferric-ion reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay and Folin-Colcalteau method respectively. The proximate composition values (%) were: moisture (82.54 – 85.19), crude protein (2.64 – 3.51), ash (1.21 – 3.03), fat (1.52 –2.87), crude fibre (2.37 – 4.71) and CHO (4.62 – 6.71). Minerals were of reasonable levels with Na, K, Ca, andP significantly high in Capsicum frutescens‘Bird pepper’. Na/K and Ca/P values were found to beless than1 except in Capsicum frutescens (cayenne pepper). Antioxidant activity ranged from 46.66 (bird pepper) – 172.00 (cayenne pepper) mg GAE/100 g ww) while total phenolic content ranged from 55.73 (bird pepper) – 138.00 (bell pepper) µmole GAE/g WW. The results in dicate that Capsicum frutescens bird pepper (Ata wewe), Capsicum frutescens (cayenne pepper) (Ata Sombo), Capsicum annum (Bell pepper) (tatase), and Capsicum annum sweet pepper (Atarodo) used as major condiments in preparation of traditional diets in Nigeria can be utilized as sources of protein supplement, valuable minerals and dietary antioxidants. They can serve as scavengers of free radicals reported to be associated with occurrence of chronic and degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases.

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