Variability of carotenes, vitamin C, E and phenolics in Brassica vegetables

Antioxidant phytochemicals such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, alpha-tocopherol, and total phenolics were estimated in fresh samples at the edible maturity stage in different genotypes of cruciferous vegetables using a reverse-phase HPLC system. Maximum mean vitamin C (52.9 mg/100g), beta-carotene (0.81 mg/100g), lutein (0.68 mg/100g), DL-alpha-tocopherol content (0.47 mg/100 g) and phenol content (63.4 mg/100g) was recorded in broccoli. Results indicate that the cruciferous vegetables are a relatively good source of abundant antioxidants, and there is a substantial and significant variation, both within and between the subspecies, for the antioxidant phytochemicals. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.