Peer seeds: Rich source of antioxidants

Abstract

During fruit processing, a large amount of solid residues such as seeds, remains underutilized. There is a need to find method for use of these by-products and to convert them into products with significant health, environmental and/or economic benefits. This study provides data about content of lipophilic antioxidants (carotenoids and tocols) and hydrophilic antioxidant potential of seeds of four autochthonous Balkan pear cultivars (Kajzerica, Kaluderka, Turšijara and Karamanka). The content of vitamin E ranged from 20.8 to 41.2 mg/100 g of seeds. In all of the investigated cultivars γ-tocopherol was dominant tocol, followed by α-tocopherol. Concerning carotenoids, their concentration ranged between 0.24 and 0.30 mg/100 g of seeds, with a predominance of lutein. The highest content of vitamin E and carotenoids was recorded in Kajzerica seeds. Antioxidant capacity of investigated samples was evaluated by hydrophilic Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay and it ranged from 2.3 mmol TE/100 g in Turšijara seeds to 14.6 mmol TE/100 g in Kaluderka seeds. Our results provide useful information for potential use of pear seeds.