Phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity in a super-sweet corn hybrid

The objective of this work was to determine the total carotenoids, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity of 'UENF SD 08' (super-sweet corn) and to compare them with those of 'UENF50611' (field corn). The total carotenoid content was determined according to Rodriguez-Amaya, the total phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, and the antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging method. For 'UENF SD 08', the average values were: 936.76 +/- 16.34 mu g 100 g(-1) for carotenoids, 346.0 +/- 3.80 mg 100 g(-1) for phenolics, and 45.53 +/- 0.01% for antioxidant activity. For UENF50611, the average values were: 1,173.38 +/- 21.66 mu g 100 g(-1) for carotenoids, 563.33 +/- 7.97 mg 100 g(-1) for phenolics, and 59.82 +/- 0.11% for antioxidant activity. UENF50611 showed a higher antioxidant activity observed due to its higher levels of carotenoids and phenolic compounds; however, the values observed for the 'UENF SD 08' super-sweet corn are within the ranges already described in the literature. ' UENF SD 08' contains a lower concentration of carotenoids and phenolic compounds than 'UENF50611', its nonmutant genetic background. However, the super-sweet corn 'UENF SD 08' has agronomic advantages, is considered a source of the evaluated secondary metabolites, and its consumption can contribute to a diet with a higher content of antioxidants.