A Comparison of Antioxidant Properties in Organic and Conventional Blueberries

Vacciniumcyanococcus , most commonly known as blueberry, is a fruit native to North America that is known for its unique taste and high antioxidant content. The skin, seed and juice of both organically and conventionally grown blueberry extract were analyzed for antioxidant content using both the Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays. Results from the Hydrophilic ORAC test showed that conventionally grown blueberries had a higher antioxidant capacity across all samples, while the Lipophilic ORAC assay showed that the antioxidant concentration of organically cultivated blueberry juice was highest, but conventionally grown blueberry seed and skin extract showed higher antioxidant content. The vitamin C content of both conventional and organic blueberries was analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), where the organic blueberries showed a higher vitamin C concentration. In general, both organic and conventional blueberries are rich in antioxidants, and therefore, possess potential health benefits that require further study.