The phytochemicals, antioxidant activities and nutritive qualities of some selected tomato pastes sold in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Tomato paste contains antioxidant compounds which act against free radical actions in the body and prevents oxidative damage and boost the physiological health of consumers. However, information on the phytochemicals, antioxidant activities and nutritive qualities of tomato pastes sold in Umuahia Metropolis is scarce. This work was undertaken to fill this gap on five selected commercial tomato pastes sold in Umuahia Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria namely, Sonia (SON), Gento (GEN), Superdelicieux (SUP), Star (STA) and Clappa (CLA). The physicochemical and antioxidant activity parameters were determined by standard methods. The results showed that lycopene (4.20 mg 100g‒1 ), vitamin C (12.76 mg 100g‒1 ) and vitamin A (1.43 mg 100g‒1 ) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in STA tomato paste. β-carotene (3.02 mg 100g‒1 ) and vitamin E (11.14 mg 100g‒1 ) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in CLA tomato paste, while phenol was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in SUP tomato paste. The chemical composition revealed that total solid ranged from 28.91 (STA) to 31.67% (SON), reducing sugar ranged from 8.78 (SUP) to 16.16% (CLA), while titratable acidity ranged from 0.21 (SON) to 0.31% (GEN) and pH ranged from 4.27 (CLA) to 4.47 (STA), respectively. Minerals concentration for Ca ranged from 1.79 (CLA) to 2.86 mg 100g‒1 (SON), Mg from 8.57 (SON) to 13.61 mg 100g‒1 (STA), K from 7.81 (SON) to 30.44 mg 100g‒1 (STA), Na from 12.21 (STA) to 15.59 mg 100g‒1 (CLA) and Fe from 0.82 (STA) to 1.89 mg 100g‒1 (SON). Stronger antioxidant activity was observed in SON paste for 1,1- diphenyl-2-picryl (DPPH) (62.07%), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) (41%) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) (47.88%). The results revealed that concentration of nutritive quality was specific to individual tomato paste, but SON possessed stronger antioxidant activity scavenging power than other tomato pastes. From the results of physicochemical and antioxidant activity of these tomato pastes, they may be used to boost physiological performance against degenerative diseases.