Abstract

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS FRUITS, HERBS, SPICES AND VEGETABLES: A REVIEW

Krishna Hari Pandey*, K.Mahalingan, Sandeep Sharma, Reshma Lamsal, Amritha.V

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological studies have shown that high consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a lowered incidence of cancer, heart disease, inflammation, arthritis, immune related diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes, and antioxidant components, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and plant polyphenols appear to play a pivotal role in decreasing the development of such diseases. Plants, including herbs and spices, have many phytochemicals which are a potential source of natural antioxidant, e.g., phenolic diterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and phenolic acids. Various researches have been done to find out the relative antioxidant activities of various herbs, fruits vegetables, spices etc. Each and every essential oil or extracts showed their specific antioxidant properties which would be corresponding with the presence of various compounds in them which are either already explored or yet to be find out. The antioxidant properties are examined by using the popular method of DPPH free radical scavenging activity or other various methods like ß-carotene bleaching method. This review has been done to bring out the general overview of the antioxidant properties of various herbs, fruits, vegetables and spices in a single place that will help further researchers to generate the general idea for selecting the best for the research. Varying antioxidant activities were found ranging from as strong as ascorbic acid to the lowest than 10 percent as well. Interestingly, all the fourteen vegetables taken in the study were found to have antioxidant activity of more than 70%. However to understand further the therapeutic values of these fruits, herbs, spices, vegetables, and their role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases further research is necessary.

Keywords: Fruits, Herbs, Spices, Vegetables, antioxidant, DPPH.