Antioxidant Activity in in Vivo and in Vivo Cultures of Onion Varieties (Bellary and CO 3)

Malla Ashwini, Janakiraman Balaganesh, Srinivasan Balamurugan, Shanmugaraj Bala Murugan, Ramalingam Sathishkumar

Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India.
Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India..

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2013.49119                

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the phytochemical components and antioxidant potential of methanolic and hydrophilic extracts isolated from in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties of Bellary and CO 3. Phytochemical components like total flavonoids, phenolics, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins were analyzed. The antioxidant activities were examined by DPPH and FRAP methods. The results indicated that the both the methanolic extracts exhibited radical scavenging activity. The DPPH scavenging activity in Bellary and CO 3 onion varieties ranged from 6.5% - 11.8% whereas FRAP values ranged from 0.9 - 3.3 μM/100 μg FW. The total anthocyanins ranged from 9.9 - 29.9 mg/kg, vitamin-C 48.6 - 78.6 mg/kg, total phenolics and flavonoids content was 15.7 - 34.7 mg/g GAE and 0.65 - 1.17 mg/g respectively. Substantial amounts of anthocyanins, phenols, flavonoids and ascorbic acid were noticed in both the varieties. Our study revealed that the possible mechanism of the biological activities in onion could be due to the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities. The polyphenols present in the onion bulbs may be responsible for these beneficial activities. This study clearly demonstrated that both the onion varieties possess very characteristic antioxidant potential that will help us in keeping good health.

Keywords

Onion; Antioxidants; Phenolics; Flavonoids

1. Introduction

Vegetables and fruits are a good source of vitamins, minerals and major component like polyphenols etc. Our daily food contains many antioxidant compounds which is due to the presence of phenols, including flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and vitamin-C. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables provide a measure of protection by preventing the oxidative stress damage. Dietary antioxidants are chemically varied, found in diverse locations and structures in plant cells and tissues. They also differ in size, water solubility and susceptibility to oxidation. Antioxidants are absorbed and metabolized in the body in a variety of ways and some antioxidants are more bioavailable than others [1]. The natural antioxidants in foods, fruits, vegetables, beverages, spices and supplements have received much attention for their nutritive value in recent years and various synthetic antioxidants have also been in commercial use.

The essential oxygen (O₂) is a fatal toxicant under specific circumstances. The charge of fuel-efficient aerobic catabolism cause oxidative damage to macromolecules like DNA, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Oxygen free radicals and reactive nitrogen species are well recognized for playing a double role as both detrimental and as valuable species. The destructive effect of free radicals causing possible biological damage known as oxidative stress and nitrosative stress occurs in biological systems when there is an overproduction of ROS/RNS on one side and a deficiency of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants on the other. Antioxidants counteract the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced within the organisms. Antioxidants can be broadly defined as “any substance that, when present at low concentrations compared to those of an oxidizable substrate, significantly delays or prevents oxidation of that substrate” [2,3]. Vegetables, fruits and their seeds are rich source of vitamins C, E, and β-carotene etc. Several plants have been reported to contain compounds including bioflavonoids and proanthocyanidins, ellipticine and taxol, indole derivatives, dithiolthiones, phytoestrogens, which exhibit chemopreventive and/or anticancer properties.

Phytochemicals possessing antioxidant properties are part of a refined array of secondary compounds that have evolved to help the plants to survive in the highly dynamic environment. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals that reduce risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Allium cepa has been reported to have anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, anti-cholesterolaemic, hypotensive, hypoglycemic, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties [4-8]. Polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, quercetin, kaempferol and their glycosides have also been reported in onions [9-12]. Huge quantities of onions are consumed all over the world, as it is very popular flavoring agent. However, available information on their free radical scavenging activities is scanty. Therefore, in vitro and in vivo cultures of Bellary and CO 3 varieties of onion were investigated for their total phenolics, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Onion Samples

The two onion varieties namely Bellary and CO 3 were obtained from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

2.2. Sample Extraction

The onions were cleaned and cut into small pieces. Sample (0.5 gm) was weighed and homogenized in 5 ml of methanol and water, until the tissue gets into a fine paste in a mortar and pestle. The samples were then centrifuged for 15 minutes at 5000 rpm at 4˚C. The supernatant was separated and stored at−20˚C for further studies.

2.3. Phytochemicals

2.3.1. Estimation of Total Flavonoid Content

To 1 ml of methanolic extract, 0.5 ml of 2% w/v AlCl₃ in methanol and 0.5 ml potassium acetate (120 mM) were added and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. Absorbance was read at 415 nm. Quercetin was used as a standard and the results were expressed as mg of quercetin equivalents per gm of fresh weight sample [13].

2.3.2. Determination of Total Phenolics

Methanolic extract (100 μL) was mixed with 1 ml of 10% Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and it was incubated at room temperature for 4 minutes. Then 2 ml of 5% Sodium carbonate was added to above mixture and vortexed. The resultant mixture was incubated in dark for 45 minutes at room temperature. Following this, the absorbance of the sample was measured at 765 nm using gallic acid (100 - 1000 μg/ml) as a standard. Results were expressed as mg of gallic acid equivalents per gm of fresh weight of sample [14].

2.3.3. Estimation of Total Ascorbic Acid

Total Ascorbic acid was quantified according to the method described by [15], Omaye et al. (1979). Water extract (100 μL) was mixed with 900 μL of 5% TCA, 1 ml of 10% TCA and 100 μL of DTC reagent. The DTC reagent was prepared using 0.04 g thiourea, 0.05 g copper sulphate, 0.3 g 2,4-DNPH and 10 ml of 9 N sulphuric acid. The mixture was then incubated at 37˚C for 3 hours for the formation of orange red osazone crystals. The osazone crystals were dissolved in 750 μL of 85% sulphuric acid and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes. The absorbance was measured at 540 nm against 5% TCA as blank. Total ascorbic acid was expressed in mg per kg of fresh weight sample.

2.3.4. Anthocyanin Assay

Total anthocyanins were analyzed by differential pH method [16]. Sample (75 mg) was homogenized in 80 ml of distilled water and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes. Buffer (pH-1) was made by mixing 1.49 g of KCl with 100 ml deionised water, then 67 ml of 0.2 N HCl was added to 25 ml of solution and it was made upto 100 ml finally pH was adjusted to 1.0 ± 0.1. Buffer (pH 4.5) was prepared by dissolving 1.64 g of sodium acetate in 100 ml of deionised water with pH adjusted to 4.5 ± 0.1. To 0.1 ml of sample extract 25 ml of pH 1 buffer was mixed and absorbance was measured at 700 nm and 510 nm. Sample extract (0.1 ml) was mixed with 25 ml of pH 4.5 buffer and absorbance was recorded at 700 and 510 nm. Absorbance was calculated byAbsorbance = (A₅₁₀ − A₇₀₀) pH 1.0 – (A₅₁₀ − A₇₀₀) pH 4.5

2.4. Antioxidant Capacity

2.4.1. DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity

Methanolic extract (100 μL) of sample was mixed with 900 μL of Tris HCl buffer (50 mM, pH 7.4) and 2 ml of DPPH (0.1 mM in methanol). The solution was incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes and the absorbance was read at 517 nm. The percentage of DPPH scavenging activity was determined as follows, DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity (%) = [(A₀−A₁)/A₀] where A₀ is the absorbance of control and A₁ is the absorbance of sample [17].

2.4.2. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay

The total antioxidant activity in the extract was determined by a modified method [18], of Benzie and Strain (1999). The reagents included 300 mM Acetate buffer (pH 3.6), 10 mM TPTZ solution in 40 mM HCl and 20 mM FeCl₃∙6H₂O solution. The fresh working solution was prepared by mixing 25 ml acetate buffer, 2.5 ml TPTZ and 2.5 ml FeCl₃∙6H₂O. The reagent must be straw yellow to light orange colour and was pre-warmed to 37˚C before use. Methanolic samples (100 μL) were allowed to react with 2850 μL of the FRAP solution, and the change in the absorbance was monitored for 4 minutes at 593 nm using FeSO₄ (200 - 1000 μM) as reference standard. The total antioxidant capacity of FRAP was calculated by the following equation, FRAP value (μM) = Change in absorbance of the sample from 0 to 4th minute at 593 nm/change in absorbance of the blank from 0 to 4th minute at 593 nm.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

All the assays were carried out in triplicates and results are expressed as mean ± SD. The data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the differences between various concentrations were determined by DMRT test using SPSS software.

3. Results and Discussion

The results of total phenolics, flavonoids, total anthocyanins vitamin-C content and radical scavenging assays in both the onion varieties are given in Figures 1-6.

Figure 1. Estimation of total phenolics in in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties (Bellary and CO 3). BO—Bellary onion, BC—Bellary callus, CO—CO 3 onion, CC—CO 3 callus.

Figure 2. Determination of total flavonoids in in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties (Bellary and CO 3). BO— Bellary onion, BC-Bellary callus, CO—CO 3 onion, CC— CO 3 callus.

Figure 3. Estimation of Anthocyanin content in in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties (Bellary and CO 3). BO— Bellary onion, BC—Bellary callus, CO—CO 3 onion, CC— CO 3 callus

Figure 4. Estimation of ascorbic acid in in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties (Bellary and CO 3). BO—Bellary onion, BC—Bellary callus, CO—CO 3 onion, CC—CO 3 callus.

Figure 5. DPPH radical scavenging activity in in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties (Bellary and CO 3). BO— Bellary onion, BC—Bellary callus, CO—CO 3 onion, CC— CO 3 callus, BHA—Butyrated Hydroxy Anisole, Vit. C— Ascorbic acid.

Figure 6. FRAP values of in vivo and in vitro cultures of onion varieties (Bellary and CO 3). BO—Bellary onion, BC —Bellary callus, CO—CO 3 onion, CC—CO 3 callus.

3.1. Total Phenolics

Phenolic compounds present in the plants are responsible for its effective free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities [19]. There was a distinct difference in the phenolic content of both the varieties. However the in vitro calli showed lesser phenolic content. Bellary and CO 3 showed 15.7 and 34.7 mg GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalent)/g FW respectively (Figure 1). The results are similar to the previous reports, where they have reported that the phenolic content of onion ranged from 4.6 to 74.1 mg GAE/g FW [20]. Lesser polyphenol content was observed in Spanish onions [21]. Certain other investigations showed variation of phenols in fresh and frozen onions [22].

3.2. Total Flavonoids

Total flavonoids in the onion varieties were ranged between 0.653 to 1.17 mg/g (Figure 2). There is no significant difference in the concentration of flavonoids in Bellary (1.18 mg/g) and CO 3 (1.12 mg/g). This study showed higher total flavonoid content than the earlier reports (red onions: 943 mg/kg FW) [23]; (white: 185 - 634 mg/kg FW) [10]; (yellow: 120 - 520 mg/kg FW) [24]; (yellow: 251 - 479 mg/kg FW) [25]; but higher than the values reported for the white varieties (1.8 mg/kg FW) [26].

3.3. Total Anthocyanins

Total anthocyanins show marked variations in the all the samples. The Bellary showed the highest amount of anthocyanin. The overall concentration of anthocyanins varied between 9.9 mg/kg to 29.9 mg/kg fresh weight of the onion bulb (Figure 3). Gregorio et al. (2010) reported that the total content of anthocyanins in red onions ranged from 5.7 to 28.6 mg/kg FW [27]. Our results showed that total anthocyanins content were considerably lower than the other reports 233 mg/kg FW [23]; 1090 - 2190 mg/kg DW [28]; 90 mg/kg FW [29] for Spanish, North American and Italian red onions, respectively. The anthocyanin content in red onions, based on calculations of quantities of their anthocyanidins has been indicated to be 62 - 240 mg of cyanidin, 0 - 23 mg of delphinidin, and up to 12 mg of peonidin per kilogram of FW [30].

3.4. Ascorbic Acid Estimation

The concentration was in the range of 48.6 to 78.6 mg/kg (Figure 4) of fresh weight. Ascorbic acid concentration was slightly lesser in in vitro cultures. Normally ascorbic acid content in the wild onion varieties was in the range from 50 to 100 mg/kg fresh weight [31,32].

3.5. DPPH Radical Scavenging activity

Highest radical scavenging activity was observed in CO 3 variety, (57.11%)  Natural antioxidant ascorbic acid and synthetic antioxidant butyrate hydroxyl anisole were used as control (Figure 5). Prakash et al. (1999) reported that the DPPH antioxidant activity for onion varied from 13.6% to 84.1% [20]. Other studies showed that the radical scavenging activities in onion were 20% - 90% [33].

3.6. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay

Ferric Ion Fe (II) reducing ability had marked differences among in vitro cultures. The maximum reducing power was observed in Bellary (0.9 µM to 3.3 µM Fe (II) (Figure 6). The variation in reducing antioxidant power in onion was reported from 0.30 μM to 2.29 μM onion [34]. FRAP showed, 5.28 mM Fe⁺²/kg fresh weight activity in yellow onion [35].

4. Conclusion

The antioxidant capacities, total phenolic, total flavonoid, vitamin-C content, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity of both in vitro and in vivo grown onion varieties were evaluated. It was found that methanolic extracts of onion varieties possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties with considerable total phenolic and flavonoid content. Our results suggested that Bellary and CO 3 varieties of onion could be a promising source of natural antioxidants.

5. Acknowledgements

The authors are very thankful to, The Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University for supporting this research through UGC-SAP and DST-FIST funds.

NOTES

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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