Antioxidant activity in selected Slovenian organic and conventional crops

Authors

  • Manca KNAP University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Food Science and Technology, Jamnikarjeva 101, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia,
  • Nives OGRINC J. Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 38, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia
  • Klemen POTOČNIK University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, Groblje 3, Domžale, SI-1230, Slovenia
  • Rajko VIDRIH University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Food Science and Technology, Jamnikarjeva 101, Ljubljana, SI-1000, Slovenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2014.103.2.12

Keywords:

organic agriculture, farming systems, antioxidants, fruits, vegetables, drug plants, spice crops, proximate composition

Abstract

The demand for organically produced food is increasing. There is widespread belief that organic food is substantially healthier and safer than conventional food. According to literature organic food is free of phytopharmaceutical residues, contain less nitrates and more antioxidants. The aim of the present study was to verify if there are any differences in the antioxidant activity between selected Slovenian organic and conventional crops. Method of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl) was used to determine the antioxidant activity of 16 samples from organic and conventional farms. The same varieties of crops were analysed. DPPH method was employed to measure the antioxidant activity of polar antioxidants (AAp) and antioxidant activity of fraction in ethyl acetate soluble antioxidants (EA AA). Descriptive statistics and variance analysis were used to describe differences between farming systems. Estimated differences between interactions for the same crop and different farming practice were mostly not statistically significant except for the AAp for basil and beetroot. Higher statistically significant values were estimated for conventional crops. For the EA AA in broccoli, cucumber, rocket and cherry statistically significant higher values were estimated for organic production.

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Published

4. 12. 2015

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Section

Agronomy section

How to Cite

KNAP, M., OGRINC, N., POTOČNIK, K., & VIDRIH, R. (2015). Antioxidant activity in selected Slovenian organic and conventional crops. Acta Agriculturae Slovenica, 103(2), 281–289. https://doi.org/10.14720/aas.2014.103.2.12

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