Food Chemistry

Volume 132, Issue 2, 15 May 2012, Pages 1003-1009

Evaluation of the antioxidant potential of cauliflower

(Brassica oleracea) from a glucosinolate content
perspective
Author links open overlay panelFranciscoCabello-HurtadoMorganeGicquelMarie-AndréeEsnault
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.11.086Get rights and content

Abstract
Glucosinolates (GLSs) are of great interest for their potential as antioxidant and
anticancer agents. Our aim was to assess in vitro antioxidant activity of cauliflower
GLSs and their derivatives, as well as to evaluate their contribution to the overall
antioxidant capacity of cauliflower extracts using four different in vitro assays, 2,2′-
azino-bis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation (ABTS +), 2,2-
diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH ), oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay
(ORAC) and superoxide radical scavenging activity assay (SRSA). The antioxidant
activities of GLSs determined using ABTS + and DPPH assays were weak. In
contrast, ORAC and SRSA assays showed significant antioxidant activity for GLSs.
This activity was particularly important for glucobrassicin, which was the most
effective GLS, and for glucoiberin and gluconapin. Mixtures of GLSs did not show
either synergy or antagonism in general. Interestingly, the breakdown products, i.e.
enzymatic hydrolysis-derived products (EHDP) of GLSs, were far more active than
the native GLSs. The highest increases in antioxidant activity were obtained for
EHDPs from progoitrin, sinigrin and glucoraphanin; progoitrin EHDP being the
second most active derivative behind glucobrassicin EHDP. Antioxidant activities and
GLS composition of different cauliflower by-product extracts were also determined.
The contribution of different GLSs on measured antioxidant activity of cauliflower
extracts was also discussed.

Highlights
► GLSs, mainly glucobrassicin have antioxidant activity in ORAC and SRSA assays.
► There is no synergy or antagonism between GLSs. ► Breakdown products of
GLSs are far more active than the native GLSs. ► Contribution of GLSs to
antioxidant activity of cauliflower seems low.