Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014 Jan;14(11):6657-62. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2013.14.11.6657.

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of cabbage phytochemicals.

Materials and methods: Color coordinates were evaluated by colorimetry, and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed by spectrophotometer for some common cabbage varieties.

Results: Red heads had the highest total antioxidant contents followed by Savoy, Chinese and green heads. The Chinese variety had the highest ABTS (2,2-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-sulfonic acid) antioxidant activity, was 5.72 μmol TE/g fw (Trolox equivalent). The green variety had the highest DPPH (free radical scavenging activity) antioxidant activity, which was 91.2 μmol TE/g fw. The red variety had the highest FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) antioxidant activity, which was 80.8 μmol TE/g fw. The total phenol amounts were 17.2-32.6 mM trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and the total flavonoid amounts were 40.0-74.2 mg quercetin per gram. Methanolic extracts of different cabbage heads showed different anti-inflammatory activity values. Chinese, Savoy and green heads had the highest anti-inflammatory activity, while red heads had the lowest.

Conclusions: The results suggest that these varieties of cabbage heads could contribute as sources of important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory related to the prevention of chronic diseases associated to oxidative stress, such as in cancer and coronary artery disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Brassica / chemistry*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology*
  • Picrates
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Polyphenols / pharmacology
  • Sulfonic Acids

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Flavonoids
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Phytochemicals
  • Picrates
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl