Phenolic compounds, carotenoids and antioxidant activity in five tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars

In this study we examined the antioxidants content (polyphenols and carotenoids) and the total hydrophilic (HAA) and lipophilic (LAA) antioxidant activity of red (cv. Shiren and Red Pear), yellow (cv. Yellow Pear-shaped), pale yellow (cv. Snowball) and black (cv. Black Trifele) ripe tomato fruits. For each studied cultivars, the HAA was higher than the LAA. The correlation between antioxidants (polyphenols and carotenoids) and TEAC values (HAA and LAA) was also estimated and the only significative correlation was obtained between rutin and TEAC-HAA. Statistical analysis shows significative differences in antioxidants content (especially for lycopene and ß-carotene) between the analyzed tomato cultivars.