TOTAL POLYPHENOL CONTENT, TOTAL FLAVONOID CONTENT, AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM L.) CULTIVARS

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is used as both a food and traditional medicine for several illnesses throughout the world. 7 garlic cultivars (Novozamocky, Lumir, Mojmir, Havran, Garpel, Eden Rose, and Bjetin) were analyzed in this study. Since modern consumer demands encourage the consumption of foods with positive effects on human health, research into the nutritional properties and chemical composition of traditional crops, like garlic, is important. Knowledge of these properties could support the cultivation of cultivars with the highest content of bioactive compounds.  Total polyphenol content (TPC) determined by Folin – Ciocalteau method ranged from 797.11 to 1183.98 mg GAE.kg-1 DM. Total flavonoid content (TFC) determined by the aluminum chloride method ranged from 15.96 to 28.18 mg CE.kg-1 DM. Antioxidant activity (AA) determined by the ABTS method ranged from 1.97 to 4.42 mmol TE.kg-1 DM. Antioxidant activity (AA) determined by the FRAP method ranged from 1.12 to 2.64 mmol TE.kg-1 DM. Statistical evaluation of results showed a difference between garlic cultivars. The highest antioxidant activity and the highest content of bioactive substances were determined in the cultivar Garpel. High positive correlations (p < 0.001) were determined between TPC and TFC (r = 0.746), TPC and AA ABTS (r = 0.862), TPC and AA FRAP (r = 0.922), TFC and AA ABTS (r = 0.792), TFC and AA FRAP (r = 0.808), and AA ABTS and AA FRAP (r = 0.896). Garlic is confirmed to be a natural source of antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids.