Bioactive compounds, myrosinase activity and antioxidant capacity of white cabbages grown in different locations of Spain

Abstract

The influence of two Spanish growing locations with well differentiated climatic conditions (North and East areas) on the main bioactive compounds, glucosinolates (GLS), total phenolic compounds (TPC), vitamin C, as well as myrosinase activity and antioxidant capacity in five white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) cultivars were investigated. Cabbages with the highest concentration of total GLS presented the highest vitamin C level (r=0.75, P¿0.05) and the lowest antioxidant capacity (r=-0.76, P¿0.05). The cultivars with the highest vitamin C content had the lowest myrosinase activity (r=-0.89, P¿0.05) and antioxidant capacity (r=-0.86, P¿0.05), while those with the largest TPC amount showed the highest antioxidant capacity (r=0.71, P¿0.05). Cabbage cultivars grown in North area of Spain with low temperatures and radiation led to higher mean values of myrosinase activity (29.25 U/g d.m.), TPC (10.0 GAE mg/g d.m.) and antioxidant capacity (81.6 µmol Trolox/g d.m.), while cultivars grown in the East area with high temperature and radiation led to larger mean values of GLS (14.3 µmol/g d.m.) and vitamin C (5.3 mg/g d.m.). The results of this investigation provide information regarding the most suitable Spanish growing location to produce white cabbage with an optimized content of health promoting compounds.