CONTENT OF TOTAL PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ORIENTAL TOBACCO VARIETIES (NICOTIANA TABACUM L.)

Ana Cvetanovska*, Marija Krstic and Lenka Cvetanovska

ABSTRACT

During 2011 and 2012, experimental plots were set with oriental tobacco type Prilep (variety P-66), type Јaka (variety ЈK-125/3) and type Basma (variety Basma 82) on the experimental field at the Scientific Institute in Prilep. The research was conducted in order to analyze the selected oriental varieties of tobacco, by monitoring the parameters that determine their high antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant potential of the tobacco was measured by determining the content of total phenolic compounds, scavenging potential on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl- picrylhydrazyl), reducing ability on Cooper (II) neocuproine (CUPRAC method) and the activity of catalase. The results showed positive correlation between the content of phenolic compounds and the scavenging potential of the methanolic extract on both DPPH and Cu2+ radicals. The highest concentration of phenolic compounds was detected in Јaka variety harvested in 2011 (28,10± 0,48 mg/g), in which we also recorded the highest scavenging activity of the methanolic extract on the DPPH radical (78 ± 2,20%), the CUPRAC (183,99 ± 2,70 μM TE/g DW) and highest catalase activity (8,96 ± 0,11 mg decomposed H2O2). The results showed that the methanolic extracts from Јaka–125/3 have the highest antioxidant activity among the tested varieties.

Keywords: Nicotiana tabacum L.; antioxidant activity; DPPH; CUPRAC; catalase activity.