Science in School Issue 13 : Autumn 2009

Table 1: Sample results

Main substancesprobablyresponsible for theantioxidant activityCommon nameScientific name

27Water

Chlorogenic acid, and -carotene

33Carrot

Daucus carota

Indole-3-carbinol,sulphoraphane, glucosi-nolates, vitamin C,isothyocianate

34Cauliflower

Brassica oleraceaBotrytis

Anthocyanins35Vinegar

Hydroxytyrosol,tyrosol,oleuropein,caffeic acid

36Extra-virgin olive oil

Olea europea

trans-lycopene,phytofluene, phy-toene, -carotene,caffeic and chloro-genic acid

38Pachino tomatoes

Solanum lycoper-sicum (Pachino IGP)

Anthocyanins, quercetinand isorhamnetin glyco-sides and dihydrochal-cones, catechins, phlo-ridzin, chlorogenic acid,proanthocyanidins

39Apple

Malus domestica

Water-soluble organosul-phur compounds (S-allyl-cysteine and S-allylmer-captocysteine); lipid-solu-ble organosulphur compo-nents (diallyl polysulphides,ajoene), flavonoids (quercetin), notablyallixin and selenium

39Garlic

Allium sativum

Quercetin-4'-O-beta-glucoside;quercetin-3,4'-O-beta-diglucosides

40Onion

Allium cepa

Cyanidin-3-O-rhamnoglucosideas the main antho-cyanin;polyphenols

42Fig jam

Ficus carica

-cryptoxanthin,zeaxanthin, cate-chine, -carotene andascorbic acid

45Japanese

persimmonDiospyros kaki

Vitamins C and E,isoflavones, catechinsand epicatechins,serotonin

45Kiwi fruit

Actinidia chinensis

Anthocyanins , fla-vanone glycosides,flavone aglycones,flavone glycosides

49Orange

Citrus sinensis

Flavanone glyco-sides, flavone gly-cosides;Cglycosylflavones

56Lemon

Citrus limon

Vitamin C,lycopene, narige-nine, flavanoneglycosides, flavoneaglycones, flavoneglycosides

63Pink grapefruit

Citrus paradisi

Chrysin,pinobanksin,kaempferol,quercetin, vitaminC, pinocembrin

79Honey

Quercetin, iso-quercetin, rutin inall samples;chlorogenic acidin some samples

140Strawberry tree

Arbutus unedo

Ascorbic acid,anthocyanins, cat-echins, ellagic tan-nins, gallic andellagic acid

574Pomegranate

Punica granatum

Gallic acid, epicat-echin, catechin

147Chocolate

Resveratrol,quercetin, cate-chin, epicatechin

538Red wine

Cyanidins andellagic acid

1006Blackberry jamRubus ulmifolius

Methylpyridinium,melanoidins,chlorogenic acids

6970Espresso coffee

Time interval(antioxidantactivity) [s]

Flavanone glycosides,flavone aglyconesflavone glycosides,vitamin C

71Citron

Citrus medica

Teaching activities

Structure image courtesy of Gianluca Farusi;tomatoes courtesy of www.clipart.com