Antioxidant Activities and Total Phenolic Contents of Three Legumes

Legumes have been important components of the human diet. They contain not only protein, starch, and dietary fiber, but also various phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. The importance of phenolic compounds to human health is well known due to their antioxidant activities. In this study, three legumes (adzuki beans, common beans, and black soybeans) frequently cultivated in Korea were evaluated for their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate)), and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) assays. In addition, correlations between agricultural traits and antioxidant activities of these three legumes were analyzed. Antioxidant activities assessed by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays and TPC showed wide variations among legumes types and accessions. Among the three legumes, adzuki beans showed higher TPC and antioxidant activity than the other two legumes. In correlation analysis, seed size showed negative correlations with antioxidant activities and TPC. In principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis, each of the three legumes was clearly separate. Results of this study can be used as basic information for developing functional materials for each legume. They can also help us understand the overall antioxidant activity of the three legumes.