Antioxidant potential of selected traditional plant-based beverages in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The main aim of our work was to determine antioxidant capacity of some traditional non-alcoholic beverages in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Eight samples of traditionally prepared beverages were tested by DPPH and FRAP assay. Total phenolic content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau method and anthocyanidines by Vanilin-HCl method. Total phenolic content was in range of 74.31 mg TEA/L (elder juice with lemon) to 3 365.35 mg TEA/L (pomegranate juice). Anthocyanidines content ranged from 125.27 mg/L (elder juice without lemon) to 1899.08 mg/L (traditionally prepared blackberry juice). Pomegranate juice exhibited the strongest activity against DPPH radicals (75.29% inhibition). The DPPH determined antioxidant capacity showed positive correlation with total phenolic content as well as with flavonoids content. FRAP assay showed stronger antioxidant capacity for most of the samples, compared to ascorbic acid standard. The analyzed traditionally prepared beverages showed strong antioxidant capacity which was even more pronounced than in the commercial juice.