TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF DRIED TOMATOES MARKETED IN BRAZIL

The main antioxidant compounds (lycopene, -carotene, total phenolic, and vitamin C) and total antioxidant activity in eight dried tomatoes marketed in Brazil were determined. The total antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH radical scavenging method and the -carotene/linoleic acid system in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic extracts. The contents of the antioxidant compounds varied significantly among the products analyzed. The hydrophobic extracts showed higher antioxidant activity with the -carotene/linoleic acid system while the hydrophilic extracts showed higher antioxidant activity with the DPPH method. Despite differences found, the dried tomatoes can be considered products with high contents of antioxidant compounds with high antioxidant activity.