The Content of Selected Antioxidant Compounds in Bell Pepper Varieties from Organic and Conventional Cultivation Before and After Freezing Process

Sweet bell pepper is one of the best sources of ascorbic acid and a fair source of carotenoids in human diets. The levels of vitamin C are very variable and may be affected by maturity, genotype and processing. Vegetable freezing is one of the most efficient and adequate preservation methods. Organic fresh vegetables contained more bioactive compounds than conventional ones. Two bell pepper cultivars (Roberta and Ożarowska) have been selected for analysis. Vegetables were cultivated on organic and conventional farms in Poland. Ripe bell peppers have been collected in the same week of ripening and were chemically analyzed twice: fresh before freezing and after six month of storage in -20°C. Vitamin C content, carotenoids also the total flavonols content have been determined in fruits. Organically produced bell peppers contained significantly more vitamin C and lutein than conventionally grown fruits. Processing with aid of freezing considerably decreases the content of the bioactive compounds in red bell peppers

The antioxidant compounds in rat experimental diets based on plant materials from organic, low-input and conventional agricultural systems

Results presented in this paper are part of a study that investigates the effect of four production systems on health effects in rats. This study was aimed to evaluate differences in the levels of flavonols, total polyphenols, beta-carotene and lutein which are well known antioxidants in four rat feeds. Raw plant materials were produced according to four different agricultural systems: organic farming (without synthetic pesticides and mineral fertilizers), low-input 1 (organic plant protection was used in combination with mineral fertilizers), low input 2 (conventional pest management and organic fertilizers were used) and conventional farming (synthetic pesticides and mineral fertilizers were used). The results indicate that rat feed prepared from the organically produced plants contained more antioxidant compounds, especially total polyphenols, flavonols and lutein. Rat feed produced for feeding experiments varied significantly in a series of key phytochemicals and therefore have the potential to produce different health effects in the subsequent feeding trials