Total antioxidant capacity of commercially important bivalves: A case study in Southern China

Abstract

Bivalve molluscs are very nutritious and an important source of animal protein for humans. To date, bivalve farming accounts for about 15% of the mean per capita animal protein intake of approximate 1.5 billion people around the world. Because of growing consumer interest in seafood with high total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which is believed to have many beneficial effects on human health, TAC in food has become a hot topic. In this study, total antioxidant capacity of five commercially important bivalves (Amusium japonicum taiwanicum, Atrina pectinata, Perna viridis, Ruditapes philippinarum, and Scapharca kagoshimensis) was determined by ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. The results showed that the total antioxidant capacity of marine bivalves was species-specific and tissue-specific. The TAC of intertidal bivalves is higher than that of subtidal bivalves, and the TAC of gills is higher than that of adductor and mantle. The findings of this study not only fill the knowledge gap of TAC of commercially important marine bivalves, but also provide consumers with useful information to identify foods (marine bivalves) that may be more beneficial to human health.