Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Date of Award

January 2013

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department

Nutrition and Food Science

First Advisor

Kequan Zhou

Abstract

Antioxidants properties have been discussed for many years. Their benefits, especially for human health, have been more and more recommended and supported by nutritionists. It is necessary to obtain sufficient amounts of these compounds from dietary sources. Goji berries are particularly rich in antioxidants. Due to the roles they play in protecting the human body from oxidative damage, studies of the antioxidant absorption are more and more popular in recent years. In this study, the stability of antioxidant properties of goji berries was investigated. Sample of goji berry was tested for antioxidant properties via total phenolic content (TPC) assay, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results from this study implied that goji berries contain a higher amount of phenolic contents and higher scavenging capacity against different free radicals than other fruits from TPC, ORAC and DPPH. Moreover, the phenolic contents and scavenging capacity indicate a well dependency relationship in does. In conclusion, goji berries could effectively prevent human bodies from oxidative damage. They could be used as a dietary source of natural antioxidants and be worthy of development and utilization. It would also be interesting to identify and characterize the antioxidants that exist in a goji berry fruit.

Download

Included in

Nutrition Commons

Share

COinS