Antioxidant contents in potato cultivars from the collection of Russian Potato Research Center

Abstract

Antioxidants protect not only plants, but also humans from oxidative stress. Plant antioxidants include phenolic compounds: phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. Potatoes are one of the most consumed crops in the world and can serve as a promising source of antioxidants in the human diet. The aim of the study was to compare secondary low-molecular-weight antioxidants (ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, total antioxidant content) in 15 cultivars of potatoes with pigmented and white pulp ( Solanum tuberosum L.) to identify genotypes having increased antioxidant activity. The research was conducted in 2019, a week after harvesting. Plants were grown on sod-podzolic soils in the fields of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Analysis of the total content of soluble phenolic compounds showed that almost all the studied varieties contained significantly more phenolic compounds in the skin than in the pulp. The maximum level of phenolic compounds was found in Monarkh (purple pulp) and Vympel (light yellow pulp) - 69.33 mg/100 g and 67.93 mg/100 g of fresh mass, respectively. The highest amount of flavonoids was observed in Zhukovsky ranniy (white pulp) and Tayfun (white pulp) - 12.49 mg/100 g and 11.06 mg/100 g of fresh mass, respectively. The highest content of ascorbic acid was determined in Gala (dark yellow pulp) - 15.84, Golubizna (white pulp) and Red Scarlett (yellow pulp) - 14.08 mg%. The maximum total content of hydrophobic antioxidants was found in Zhukovsky ranniy (white pulp) - 0.38 mg. eq. HA/g and Red Scarlett (yellow pulp) - 0.37 mg. eq. HA/g.