INFLUENCE OF THE ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL CULTIVATION SYSTEMS ON THE ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF VEGETABLES

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different cultivation systems on the antioxidant activity of lettuce, rocket press and chicory. Seeds from a single batch were planted using the organic and conventional systems so that their commercial maturity was reached at the same time for both systems. Methanol extracts were screened for their antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical scavenging assay. All vegetables showed antioxidant properties with some variations in the intensity of the effect, depending on the study of species and the concentration of the extract as well as the type of cultivation, which the organic system showed better effect. The highest antioxidant activity against DPPH radical was in organic rocket press followed by the organic chicory, organic lettuce, conventional rocket press, conventional chicory and conventional lettuce. Thus the consumption of vegetables is recommended particularly those coming from an organic farming as part of the diet since they can represent important source of natural antioxidants.