Radiation-Induced Enhancement of Antioxidant Contents of Soybean (Glycine max Merrill)

Soybean samples were treated with γ-radiation doses between 0.5 and 5 kGy for achieving insect disinfestation and microbial decontamination. Nutritional quality of soybeans with respect to antioxidant isoflavone content was tested in radiation-treated and untreated samples. Changes in major isoflavones such as genistein, diadzein, glycetein, and their glycosides were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography. Interestingly, a decrease in content of glycosidic conjugates and an increase in aglycons were noted with increasing radiation dose. Antioxidant potential measured as percent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity showed an increasing trend with dose, indicating that radiation processing as a method of food preservation has a positive nutritional implication. Keywords: Antioxidant activity; γ-irradiation; HPLC; isoflavones; soybean (Glycine max Merrill)