Evaluation of antioxidant defense system of wild Allium neapolitanum Cyr. from Italy

This study examines the antioxidant status of fresh organs of Allium neapolitanum Cyr. And compare the results with those obtained from Allium sativum L. The antioxidant enzymes activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase and the levels of glutathione, the content of thiosulphinates and ascorbic acid were determined in bulbs, bulblets, leaves and flowers. Allium neapolitanum exhibits antioxidant ability in all organs investigated: the bulb presents the highest levels of ascorbic acid (P<0.001 versus leaves, flowers and bulblets), the leaves have the highest activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.001 versus flowers and bulblets), while the reduced glutathione levels and glutathione reductase activity are greater in the flowers (P<0.001 versus bulbs). An important result is the high activity of glutathione peroxidase in the leaves of Allium neapolitanum greater than the bulb of Allium sativum (P<0.05). Allium neapolitanum possesses properties similar to garlic indicating its possible nutritional and medicinal value.