ANTIOXIDATIVE POTENTIAL OF LENTIL SEED COAT TOWARDS LIPOXYGENASE ACTIVITY AND β-CAROTENE OXIDATION

Legume seeds - apart from protein, carbohydrates, micronutrients - contain phytochemicals including phenolic compounds, which are mainly present in seed coats. The aim of this work was to determine the antioxidative properties of the lentil seed coat towards lipoxygenases activity and in β-carotene-linoleate system. It has been found that the total phenolics content in lentil seed coat makes up to 53.14 mg/g dry matter and flavanols (tannins) up to 35.92 mg/g dry matter. It was found that type-1 and type-2 lipoxygenases were effectively inhibited by phenolics extracted from lentil seed coat. Crude tannin extract from lentil seed coat also showed strong antioxidative properties in β-carotene-linoleate system. It can be concluded that phenolic constituents of lentil seed coats can counteract lipid peroxidation catalyzed by lipoxygenase and p-carotene oxidation and can be utilized as potent antioxidants.