Antioxidant Content Of Fruits Research Articles

Diversity of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and mineral element content in four fig cultivars (Ficus carica L.) and their correlation with the rooting of hardwood cuttings

We investigated the phenolic compound profile, antioxidant capacity, rooting of cutting and fruit mineral concentration on 15-year-old trees of four Iranian figs (Ficus carica cvs. “Siyah”, “Kashki”, “Shahanjir” and “Sabz”) planted under rain-fed conditions with different fruit skin color, as well as the correlation between these traits. The range of TSS and antioxidant capacity of fruit (without significant differences) was 75.3–76.7°Brix and 87.9–90.3 DPPHsc %, respectively. “Kashki” had the highest total phenolic (TP) (mg GAE/100 g dw) in both the fruit (1964) and the stem bark (1702) and “Sabz” had the lowest flavonoid content (µg CE mg−1 dw) in the fruit (652.3), leaf (1274.5), and stem bark (1501.9). Although the rooting percentage of cuttings was similar in “Siyah”, “Shahanjir”, and “Sabz”, the lowest rooting percentage (62.7%) and the lowest polyphenol oxidase enzyme (PPO) activity (42.5 U.mL−1) were in “Kashki”. Rooting of the cuttings had a direct correlation with PPO activity and catechin and a negative correlation with the TP, vanillin and trans-ferulic acid concentration in cutting bark. These results showed that the fresh cultivar such as “Shahanjir” with outstanding characteristics, such as high potassium and antioxidant content of fruits and good rooting of the cuttings (97.2%) can be recommended for the development programs of light-colored fresh figs. On the other hand, there were two cultivars, “Siyah” and “Kashki” with dark fruit color; due to their content of TP, total flavonoid, quercetin, trans-ferulic acid and high calcium content in the fruit, these should also be considered.

Impact of Post-harvest Treatments on The Antioxidant Content of Fruits and Vegetables

Impact of Post-harvest Treatments on The Antioxidant Content of Fruits and Vegetables

Influence of Nano-Silica/Chitosan Film Coating on the Quality of ‘Tommy Atkins’ Mango

In this study, we assessed the coating of ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes with films containing chitosan and nano-silicon dioxide in terms of the effects on fruit parameters as an indicator of quality. After coating, the fruits were first stored at 13 ± 1 °C and 90–95% RH for 30 days, and then at 20 ± 2 °C and 70–75% RH for 5 days, which corresponds to the marketing period. The results showed that coating treatments significantly decreased the fruits’ weight loss and decay percentage compared to the uncoated control samples over the storage period. Additionally, all coated treatments delayed skin degreening, reduced endogenous ethylene production, suppressed respiration rate, and maintained the firmness, compared to untreated control fruit. Titratable acidity and vitamin C significantly decreased in all samples during storage, but this decrease was less pronounced in the coated fruits. Furthermore, coating can delay the increments in total soluble solids and total sugars while maintaining total phenolics, and high antioxidant content of fruits, thereby extending the effective length of the marketing period of treated fruits compared to the control. It was shown that the coating combination of 2% chitosan plus 1% nano-silicon dioxide was the most successful in maintaining the mango’s quality under cold storage and during marketing.

Contribution of Piriformospora indica on improving the nutritional quality of greenhouse tomato and its resistance against cu toxicity after humic acid addition to soil.

Protected cultivation has a significant contribution in vegetable production. We investigated whether humic acid addition to soil and Piriformospora indica can improve the nutritional quality of greenhouse tomato. We conducted a pot experiment, in which the effects of P. indica inoculation, humic acid addition, and Cu spiking to soil (0, 120, 240, and 500 ppm Cu) were tested. Humic acid addition to soil spiked with 500 ppm Cu decreased the Cu concentration in the fruits of plants inoculated with P. indica from 0.65 to 0.40 mg 100 g Fw-1, which is still above the maximum allowed limits of Cu in tomato by World Health Organization (WHO). The lycopene and ascorbic acid content of tomato fruits were consistently improved by humic acid addition and P. indica inoculation. The antioxidant enzymes' activity changed in response to humic acid addition, Cu spiking to soil, and P. indica inoculation. With increasing Cu level up to 240 ppm, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) increased significantly. However, with spiking more Cu to soil, the activity of antioxidant enzymes reduced and the MDA content increased significantly. Addition of humic acid to soil and/or presence of P. indica increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes when the soil spiked with 500 ppm Cu. This study indicated that addition of P. indica and humic acid to the soil can enhance the nutritional quality of greenhouse tomato by reduction of Cu toxicity as a common pollutant in the greenhouse media and increasing the antioxidant content of fruits.

The plant age influences eggplant fruit growth, metabolic activity, texture and shelf-life

Vegetable quality shows extensive variation along a single production cycle depending on the harvest season. So far, these effects have been mostly attributed to variations in preharvest climatic conditions, resource availability and cultural practices. Whether or not some of these differences are also influenced by variations in the plant age is unknown. The aim of this work was to evaluate if the plant age modulates eggplant fruit composition at harvest and postharvest performance. Eggplants were synchronically produced in plants having different age (4-or 9-month old). At the same dates fruit was picked and assessed for quality at three developmental stages: Baby (9 cm long), Small-Commercially Mature (Small-CM, 17 cm long) and Large-Commercially Mature (Large-CM, 19 cm long). Eggplants from 4-and 9-month old plants harvested at Small-CM, were stored at 10 °C for 0, 7, 14 and 21 d and evaluated for postharvest performance. Eggplants picked in 4-month plants grew faster, reaching commercial maturity earlier than those developing in older plants. In addition, fruit growing in 4-month plants were softer and had higher respiration rate and sugar content. Instead, the plant age did not affect seed number, size or fruit antioxidant content. Finally, fruit from 4-month plants were less susceptible to postharvest dehydration and softening and stored better. Taken together results show that the plant age significantly affects eggplant fruit growth, metabolic activity, texture and shelf-life.

Fruit Yield and Antioxidant Activity of Pepper Genotypes Subjected to Nitrogen Doses

The present study evaluates the fruit yield and antioxidant activity of pepper genotypes as a function of nitrogen doses. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with seven pepper genotypes: two C. annuum (116 and 163), two C. chinense (39 and 118), two C. frutescens (17 and 113), and one C. praetermissum (141), and 11 nitrogen doses (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 and 512 N mg dm-3). Productive parameters were evaluated, and antioxidant compounds were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Genotypes 116 and 163 showed a higher fruit fresh mass, and genotype 141 produced the highest number of fruits per plant. Genotypes 141 and 163 were the earliest. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained in the extracts of fruits of genotype 113. Nitrogen fertilization did not affect the antioxidant content of fruits. The pepper genotypes of the present study have comparable bioactive compound contents and antioxidant activity. Therefore, they are promising genotypes for the vegetable production sector, with potential for industrial and pharmacological use.

Strawberry Achenes Are an Important Source of Bioactive Compounds for Human Health.

Strawberries are highly appreciated for their taste, nutritional value and antioxidant compounds, mainly phenolics. Fruit antioxidants derive from achenes and flesh, but achene contribution to the total fruit antioxidant capacity and to the bioaccessibility after intake is still unknown. In this work, the content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity (TEAC, FRAP and DPPH) of achenes and flesh were compared in non-digested as well as in gastric and intestinal extracts after in vitro digestion. Results showed that, despite strawberry achenes represent a small fraction of the fruit, their contribution to total fruit antioxidant content was more than 41% and accounted for 81% of antioxidant capacity (TEAC). Achenes have higher quantity and different quality of antioxidants in non-digested and digested extracts. Antioxidant release was higher in the in vitro gastric digested extracts, but digestion conditions did not only affect quantity but quality, resulting in differences in antioxidant capacity and highlighting the importance of simulating physiological-like extraction conditions for assessing fruit antioxidant properties on human health. These results give new insights into the use of strawberry achenes as a source of bioactive compounds to be considered in strawberry breeding programs for improving human health.

Effects of different organic weed management strategies on the physicochemical, sensory, and antioxidant properties of machine-harvested blackberry fruits.

The effect of 3 different weed management strategies, nonweeding, hand weeding, and weed mat, were examined on physicochemical, sugar profile, and antioxidant properties of 2 cultivars of blackberry (Rubus spp), "Marion" and "Black Diamond" harvested at 3 time intervals during the 2012 season. Sensory analysis on flavor intensity of 6 different descriptors by an experienced panel was also performed on "Black Diamond" berries harvested at the same interval during the 2013 season. While weed management had no effect on pH, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids of either cultivar (P > 0.05), it showed a marked effect on total phenolics (5.65 to 7.80 mg GAE/g FW), total monomeric anthocyanins (1.07 to 2.85 mg/g FW), ORAC (271.51 to 644.97 μMol TE/g FW), FRAP (408.56 to 719.10 μMol Fe(2+) /g FW), sugar profile, and flavor intensity. Hand-weeding resulted in fruit antioxidant content and capacity as much as 30% greater, though the effect was not seen in the late harvest, where the nonweeded samples tended to have higher values. Overall, weed mat samples had the lowest antioxidant content and capacity in all harvests. Sugar profiling exhibited a greater variability based on cultivar and harvest, but overall, weed mat samples had lower sugar levels than fruit from the other 2 methods. Interestingly, the intensity of sensory attributes for "Black Diamond" appear to possibly be inversely related to phenolic and anthocyanin content, with the weed mat management strategy resulting in the highest values for virtually all sensory attributes. This study provided valuable information about the impact of organic production method on the quality of blackberries. Weed management is one of the largest costs associated with organic agriculture because of limited availability of approved herbicides. While much work has been done to evaluate the effect of different methods on plant growth and yield, few have determined the impact of weed management methods on fruit quality. This study investigated the impact of 3 common weed management strategies on physicochemical, sensory, and antioxidant properties of 2 organically grown blackberry cultivars. Given the widespread belief that organically grown products are of higher quality than conventionally grown ones, the information generated is particularly important for growers and consumers.

Influence of rootstock on fruit entity, quality and antioxidant properties of fresh apricots (cv. ‘Pisana’)

The influence of two commercial Prunus rootstocks (‘Myrabolan 29/C’ and apricot ‘Seedling’) on fruit entity and quality of ‘Pisana’ apricot cultivar (Prunus armeniaca L.) was evaluated over two consecutive crop seasons. The effect of rootstock on the total antioxidant capacity, total phenols and physical-chemical traits of fresh apricots was studied at the ready-to-eat stage and after 14 days at 4 °C cold storage. The rootstocks had no significant influence on the flowering and fruiting entity but affected some fruit quality traits. The ‘Myrabolan 29/C’ appeared to induce the highest fruit weight, total antioxidant capacity and total phenols. The results showed an important role of the climatic conditions in determining the fruit antioxidant content. A drought ripening period improved the antioxidant potential of fruit independently of the rootstock. After cold storage, apricot fruits maintained good levels of antioxidants.

Birds Select Fruits with More Anthocyanins and Phenolic Compounds During Autumn Migration

We evaluated whether fruit selection by autumn-migrating birds at an important stopover site in southern New England was related to water-soluble antioxidant content of fruits. We measured total anthocyanins, total phenolics, and total antioxidant capacity in fruits from common native and non-native plant species and related this to estimates of fruit selection by free-living birds. Birds selected certain fruits over others, with arrowwood (Viburnum recognitum, V. dentatum) consumed at the highest rate, followed by Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) with much lower consumption of other fruits (e.g., oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), winterberry (Ilex verticillata)). Antioxidant concentrations primarily differed by shrub species and less so between sites. Arrowwood spp. had the highest total antioxidants, followed by Virginia creeper, northern bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica), chokeberry spp. (Aronia prunifolia, A. melanocarpa), multiflora rose, winterberry, and oriental bittersweet. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that free-living birds select fruits based, in part, on antioxidant content. We suggest birds may actively select polyphenol/anthocyanin-rich fruits during autumn migration to protect themselves against the potentially damaging effects of oxidative stress caused by long-distance fasting flight. Received 4 April 2012. Accepted 29 June 2012.

Tomato plants overexpressing cryptochrome 2 reveal altered expression of energy and stress‐related gene products in response to diurnal cues

In order to sense and respond to the fluctuating light conditions, higher plants possess several families of photoreceptors, such as phytochromes (PHYs), cryptochromes (CRYs) and phototropins. CRYs are responsible for photomorphogenesis and play a role in circadian, developmental and adaptive growth regulation of plants. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), CRY2 controls vegetative development, flowering time, fruit antioxidant content as well as the diurnal transcription of several other photoreceptor genes. We applied large-scale molecular approaches to identify altered transcripts and proteins in tomato wild-type (WT) versus a CRY2 overexpressing transgenic genotype, under a diurnal rhythm. Our results showed that tomato CRY2 profoundly affects both gene and protein expression in response to daily light cycle. Particularly altered molecular pathways are related to biotic/abiotic stress, photosynthesis, including components of the light and dark reactions and of starch and sucrose biosynthesis, as well as to secondary metabolism, such as phenylpropanoid, phenolic and flavonoid/anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways. One of the most interesting results is the coordinated up-regulation, in the transgenic genotype, of a consistent number of transcripts and proteins involved in photorespiration and photosynthesis. It is conceivable that light modulates the energetic metabolism of tomato through a fine CRY2-mediated transcriptional control.

From Villous Strawberry Shams to Hairy Huckleberries: The Wild Side of Berry Exploration

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis was established as the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System's berry genebank in 1981. Since then, the USDA has sponsored numerous explorations throughout the United States and foreign countries to obtain berry plant genetic resources. Species of Fragaria L. (strawberries), Ribes L. (currants and gooseberries), Rubus L. (raspberries and blackberries), and Vaccinium L. (blueberries and cranberries) are native to both domestic and international localities. With limited gene pools for cultivated strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, expeditions have provided a wealth of genetic resources to expand opportunities for breeders to develop new cultivars. Particularly given the diverse species inherent in the development of cultivated blueberries, these trips have discovered unusual new blueberry relatives and forms available for expanding the range of production, increasing plant yields, and improving fruit antioxidant content. Along the way, new fruit species and new uses for known species were observed. Gathering the bounty of the world's berries resulted in encounters with diverse fauna, from snakes, bears, and bison to butterflies, mosquitoes, ticks, and chiggers. Avenging Toxicodendron species have added their mark on intrepid explorers. Remote sites with nothing but clear night stars and the satellite markers on the global positioning system offer radiant beauty and an abiding hope for the conservation of plant genetic diversity for all people for all time.

Food selection based on high total antioxidant capacity improves endothelial function in a low cardiovascular risk population

Background and aims Oxidative stress has been advocated as a major cause for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and low plasma antioxidant concentrations are associated with endothelial dysfunction, the first step towards atherosclerosis. However, although the antioxidant content in fruits and vegetables may explain at least in part their protective effect against CVD, supplementation with antioxidant vitamins fails to improve endothelial function and reduce CVD risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a diet rich in antioxidants on endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in volunteers at low cardiovascular risk. Methods and results In a crossover trial, 24 subjects (13 women, mean age 61 ± 3 years), received, in a randomised order, a 14-day high (HT) and a 14-day low (LT) antioxidant diets, with a 2-week wash-out (WO) in between. Both diets were comparable in daily portions of fruits and vegetables, and in alcohol, fibre and macronutrient intake, but differed in their total antioxidant capacity. Before and after each diet, anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, hepatic enzymes, circulating antioxidant concentrations, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and FMD were assessed. FMD increased significantly during the HT diet compared to the LT ( p < 0.000). FMD values were 2.3% higher after HT compared with LT ( p < 0.001) after adjustment for age, gender and diet order. α-tocopherol increased significantly ( p < 0.05) and hs-CRP and of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase decreased significantly ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) during the HT diet, compared with the LT diet. Conclusions A short-term HT diet improves endothelial function in volunteers at low cardiovascular risk, which may further reduce their risk of CVD.

Effect of Spinacia oleraceae L. and Perilla frutescens L. on Antioxidants and Lipid Peroxidation in an Intervention Study in Healthy Individuals

Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables is frequently recommended to prevent several diseases. This health-promoting effect is considered to be in part due to the antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables and their ability to decrease oxidative stress. To investigate whether the ingestion of preparations from spinach or perilla, two carotenoid-rich leafy vegetables, is followed by an increase in carotenoid concentration and/or affects parameters of oxidative stress in human blood plasma. 12 healthy volunteers ingested a perilla- or spinach preparation for 10 days (5 mg lutein/d). We quantified antioxidant levels in plasma, kinetics of lipid peroxidation, MDA concentration, and total antioxidative capacity of plasma. We observed a significant increase in lutein content and a moderate increase (n.s.) in beta-carotene content in human blood plasma after consumption of spinach or perilla. The markers of lipid peroxidation tended to decrease, but no influence on antioxidative capacity of plasma could be detected. The high lutein content of perilla caused a more pronounced increase of lutein compared to spinach. Both vegetables seem to be able to influence lipid peroxidation in a beneficial manner.

Antioxidant activity in cultivar types of tomato and bell pepper

The high antioxidant content in fruits of tomato and sweet pepper is determined as a characteristic of nutritive value as well as medical purposes. The analyses snowed that the antioxidant activity was different in cultivars type of tomato and sweet pepper taken for testing. It was shown that the antioxidant activity in a fruit juice of sweet pepper was 2.5 times as much as in tomato juice. The maximum antioxidant activity was observed in hybrids with pink and crimson colored fruits such as N603, Galactika, and also inbred lines of pepper developed by inter-specific crossing of N624 and N1713.

Effect of Regulated Deficit Irrigation and Crop Load on the Antioxidant Compounds of Peaches

The use of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies is becoming a common practice in areas with low water availability. Little information is available about the effects of RDI on the antioxidant content of fruits. In this study, the influence of RDI on the content of vitamin C, phenolic compounds and carotenoids was investigated. Two irrigation strategies, fully irrigated (FI) and RDI, were compared at two levels of thinning, commercial and half of the commercial crop load. RDI strategies affected the content of vitamin C, phenolics and carotenoids of Flordastar peaches. RDI caused fruit peel stress lowering the content of vitamin C and carotenoids, while increasing the phenolic content, mainly anthocyanins and procyanidins. Fruit weight was the only quality index influenced by the crop load as it increased in FI fruits at low crop load. In general, fruits from commercial crop load had slightly higher content of antioxidants to fruits from low crop load, although these influences were only observed in the peel. Additionally, the influence of irrigation controlled by two sensors related to plant water level, maximum daily trunk shrinkage (MDS) and sap flow (SF) on the antioxidant constituents of peaches was evaluated. The response of the fruits to SF sensor was similar to that observed for RDI strategy. According to the tested water sensors, SF did not act as a good plant-based water indicator for use in irrigation scheduling, as it caused an increase in the content of phenolics, similar to that observed for fruits subjected to RDI. Therefore, selection of RDI strategies and plant water indicators should be taken into account as they affect the content of antioxidants of peaches.

Effects of cultivar and rootstock on the antioxidant content and physical characters of clingstone peaches

A study was conducted to investigate the variability in the fruit antioxidant content and physical characters of six clingstone cultivars and three breeding selections of peach grafted on three rootstocks. The parameters measured were fruit weight, fruit and stone dimensions, flesh color using CIELAB color variables, total antioxidant activity using the radical DPPH, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, soluble solids and total acid content. Fruit from cultivar PI-E45 had the highest total antioxidant activity (10.7 mg g −1 DW) and total phenolic (6.9 mg g −1 DW) content, which were up to 6.3- and 5.3-fold greater, respectively, compared with the rest studied cultivars. The highest ascorbic acid content was found in Fortuna (7.3 mg 100 g −1 FW) and was up to 1.4-fold greater compared with the rest studied cultivars. A high correlation between AEAC and the phenolic content was found, but not between AEAC and the ascorbic acid content. The largest fruit was harvested in cultivar Andross followed with a descending order by PI-E45, PI-IB42, PI-A37 (seedlings of Andross), Fortuna and Loadel ≫ Everts and Catherina ≫ Romea. Changes in the fruit weight were usually according to changes in stone width. The fruit and stone shape differed among the cultivars but not among the rootstocks studied. Effects of rootstock on the fruit antioxidant contents were not pronounced. Nevertheless rootstocks altered the fruit weight since in all cultivars, apart from Romea and Catherina, when grafted on GF 677 produced the largest fruit (mean 186 g) followed by PR204 (mean 176 g) and even smaller by KID1 (mean 161 g). Results from correlation analyses showed that flesh brightness (measured in frozen fruit) may suggest for more nutritional flesh and small sized fruit may contain a redder and less bright colored flesh.

Relationship between Apple Peel and the Whole Fruit Antioxidant Content: Year and Cultivar Variation

Antioxidants are usually considered with regard to plant defense mechanisms due to the oxidative stress or their importance for human health or both. In the present research, a comprehensive study was made to test the relationship between the antioxidant content in apple peel and the whole fruit in two growing seasons. Antioxidants were mainly localized in the apple peel, but cultivars exhibited very high biodiversity in the distribution pattern. High or very high correlation coefficients between apple peel glutathione reductase and catalase activity as well as ascorbate, glutathione, and anthocyanins concentrations and the whole fruit were discovered on the basis of both fresh and dry weight basis in two growing seasons: 2004 and 2005. In the case of ascorbate peroxidase activity and phenolics or flavonol contents, it was proven only in 2005. It seems that apple peel could be a good marker of health values as well as antioxidant potential of apple fruit. Additional arguments, as compared to the previous study, were incorporated to support the suggestion of glutathione reductase as worth considering as an environmental stress marker and/or signalling molecule.

Rapid Fruit Extracts Antioxidant Capacity Determination by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The antioxidant content of fruits have made them a desirable component of the human diet. Several wet chemistry techniques, including the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACFL) assay, have been reported for measuring the antioxidant activities of fruit. In this study, we investigated the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to measure fruit antioxidant activity. Flavonoid-rich extracts from 5 blueberry, 5 grape, and 6 blackberry genotypes were obtained by methanol-water-formic acid (60:37:3, v/v/v) solvent. The total antioxidant capacities of the fruit extracts were determined by the ORACFL assay, and the FTIR spectra of the fruit extracts were collected. Partial least squares (PLS) regressions with cross-validation was conducted on 128 spectra of extracts and their corresponding ORACFL values to obtain a calibration model for predicting the antioxidant activity of the extracts. Spectra from an additional 16 extracts were used as an external validation set for the model. A good calibration model (R2= 0.97) for antioxidant activity was obtained with satisfactory predictive ability (root mean standard error [RMSE] = 5.35) using the spectral region 2000/cm to 900/cm. Cross-validation procedures indicated good correlations (R2= 0.94) between ORACFL assay values and FTIR estimates. The ratio of the standard deviation of the data to the standard error of validation (RPD) values were above 5.0 for blueberry, grapes, and the combined extracts in the external validation set indicating that the calibration model was suitable for quantifying fruit extracts antioxidant activities. This study shows that an FTIR technique would be suitable for rapidly measuring fruit extract antioxidant activity.

Total Antioxidant Capacity of Plant Foods, Beverages and Oils Consumed in Italy Assessed by Three Different In Vitro Assays

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an inverse association between consumption of fruits and vegetables and morbidity and mortality from degenerative diseases. The antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables may contribute to the protection they offer from disease. Because plant foods contain many different classes and types of antioxidants, knowledge of their total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which is the cumulative capacity of food components to scavenge free radicals, would be useful for epidemiologic purposes. To accomplish this, a variety of foods commonly consumed in Italy, including 34 vegetables, 30 fruits, 34 beverages and 6 vegetable oils, were analyzed using three different assays, i.e., Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP). These assays, based on different chemical mechanisms, were selected to take into account the wide variety and range of action of antioxidant compounds present in actual foods. Among vegetables, spinach had the highest antioxidant capacity in the TEAC and FRAP assays followed by peppers, whereas asparagus had the greatest antioxidant capacity in the TRAP assay. Among fruits, the highest antioxidant activities were found in berries (i.e., blackberry, redcurrant and raspberry) regardless of the assay used. Among beverages, coffee had the greatest TAC, regardless of the method of preparation or analysis, followed by citrus juices, which exhibited the highest value among soft beverages. Finally, of the oils, soybean oil had the highest antioxidant capacity, followed by extra virgin olive oil, whereas peanut oil was less effective. Such data, coupled with an appropriate questionnaire to estimate antioxidant intake, will allow the investigation of the relation between dietary antioxidants and oxidative stress-induced diseases.