Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of raw and blanched Amaranthus species

The study was aimed to determine the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities) and total phenolic content of Amaranthus sp. The effects of different blanching times (10 and 15 min) on antioxidant activity and phenolic content were also studied. Four types of Amaranthus species locally known as spinach, namely 'bayam putih' (Amaranthus paniculatus) (BP), 'bayam merah' (Amaranthus gangeticus) (BM), 'bayam itik' (Amaranthus blitum) (BI) and 'bayam panjang' (Amaranthus viridis) (BPG), were selected. Total antioxidant activity of water-soluble components in raw spinach was in the order of BI approximate to BM approximate to BPG > BP, whereas free radical-scavenging activity was in the order of BI > BPG > BM > BP. The total phenolic contents of BM and BP were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than other samples. All the studied spinach species possessed different antioxidant activities and phenolic contents. Antioxidant activities and phenolic contents of all the spinach were in the order of raw > blanched 10 min > blanched 15 min. Blanching up to 15 min may affect losses of antioxidant activity and phenolic content, depending on the species of spinach. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.