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Characterization of carotenoids, chlorophylls, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of Brassica oleracea L var. botrytis leaves from Pakistan

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Abstract

Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis leaves are commonly used leafy vegetables in Pakistan; however, there is a lack of literature regarding the detailed composition of carotenoids, chlorophylls contents. The study was conducted to determine variations in carotenoids, chlorophylls, total phenolic, and flavonoids contents, and antioxidant activity of B. oleracea L. from the selected regions in Pakistan. Carotenoids and chlorophylls were determined using reversed-phase HPLC-DAD; other parameters were determined using spectroscopic methods. Twelve carotenoids and 9 chlorophylls were present in all samples. The β-carotene, lutein, fucoxanthin, δ-carotene, neoxanthin, γ-carotene, and phytoene were the major carotenoids. Chlorophyll b, chlorophyllide a, 13′-hydroxy-lactone chlorophyll b, hydroxyl-pheophytin a, and 15′-hydroxy-lactone chlorophyll a were the major chlorophylls in B. oleracea leaves. Variations occurred among carotenoids and pigment contents in samples. Total phenolic contents, flavonoids contents, and radical scavenging activity exhibited variations among samples. These results indicated that B. oleracea leaves from the selected locations in Pakistan were a good source of important phytochemicals especially carotenoids and chlorophylls for potential food and nutraceutical industries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

    Alam Zeb & Salman Khan

  2. Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey

    Sezai Ercişli

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  1. Alam Zeb
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  2. Salman Khan
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  3. Sezai Ercişli
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AZ designed experiment, analyzed & interpret HPLC results, prepare figures; SK collected samples, performed experiments, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript; SE interprets results, revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Alam Zeb.

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Zeb, A., Khan, S. & Ercişli, S. Characterization of carotenoids, chlorophylls, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of Brassica oleracea L var. botrytis leaves from Pakistan. Biologia 77, 315–324 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-021-00905-8

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