Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Tomato Cultivars.

The bioactive compounds of 16 tomato cultivars, grown in the same field for 2 years (2003 and 2004) were investigated. Lycopene (5.7-26.3 mg kg-1) was the predominant carotenoid, while β-carotene (2.1-11.2 mg kg-1) and a small amount of lutein (0.02-0.49 mg kg-1) were found in all tomato cultivars. Kagome 77, the richest source of total carotenoids and L-ascorbic acid, also showed the highest antioxidant activity. β-Carotene and lutein contents of tomatoes differed between 2 years statistically. Antioxidant activities of tomatoes were found between 48 and 118 μmol TEAC 100 g-1. A significant correlation was only observed between L-ascorbic acid (2.2-13.8 mg 100 g-1) and antioxidant activity using TEAC assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]