Characterization of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity among Genetically Different Genotypes of Chilli (Capsicum annum L.)

This study evaluated the antioxidant power, flavonoids and the total phenolic contents of forty-five genotypes of chilli. The antioxidant activities were tested forextraction scavenging using diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), azinobisethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), assay of ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and determining total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoids (TF) contents. There were a significant difference in the total phenolic content (17.38–131.5mg GAE/g dry weight), total flavonoid (14.07–56.15 mg quercetin/g dry weight), DPPH (0.55–5.60 mM AAE/g dry weight), ABTS (16.03– 38.12 mM AAE/g dry weight) and FRAP (0.80– 6.40 mM GAE/dry weight). Three genotypes viz. IC-561635, CITH-HP-22 and IC-561731 exhibited highest values for all the assays. Significant correlation coefficients were identified between TP–TF (r = 0.93) DPPH-ABTS (r= 0.71), ABTS-TP (r=0.81) and FRAP-TF (r=0.89). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the studied genotypes into seven clusters. The identified genotypes of chilli are powerful sources of natural antioxidants that slow down the oxidation processes in the body by protecting them from the active oxygen species.