DIVERSITY OF CHEMICAL CONTENT AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY IN FLOWER BUDS OF A WIDE NUMBER OF WILD GROWN CAPER (CAPPARIS OVATA DESF.) GENOTYPES FROM TURKEY

Abstract

Some phytochemical characteristics such as total phenolic content, vitamin C, total carotenoid and biological activity (antioxidant characteristics) of forty-four wild grown caper (Capparis ovata) genotypes sampled in Coruh valley located in the Northeastern part of Turkey were determined. Antioxidant activity of caper buds was determined by DPPH (2,2-dipheny1-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Notable differences were found among wild grown caper samples in terms of phytochemical content and antioxidant characteristics. Among the caper genotypes tested, the total phenolics ranged from 15.0 mg to 22.8 mg gallic acid equivalent per g fresh buds. The IC50 values varied from 19.20 to 30.06 mg per g fresh weight among genotypes. It can thus be concluded that wild caper buds are a good source of some phytochemicals (phenols, carotenoids) and have high biological activity (antioxidants).