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.