Planta Med 2014; 80 - PD134
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382555

Comparison of antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content and yield of different crops grown in soil and aeroponic system

S Chandra 1, S Khan 1, 2, B Avula 1, H Lata 1, MH Yang 1, MA ElSohly 1, 3, IA Khan 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

A comparison of antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content, and product yield was done in eight different crops (basil, chard, red kale, parsley, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and squash) grown in aeroponic growing systems (Tower Garden® by Juice Plus+®, Collierville, TN, USA) and in the field. Antioxidant properties of these crops were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) and cellular antioxidant (CAA) assays. Except tomatoes and chard, all other crops have shown a comparable antioxidant activity (P < 0.05) following CAA assay. The activity of tomatoes and chard was higher when grown in the field. Following the DDPH assay, however, no statistically significant differences in antioxidant activities were observed in all the crops grown in aeroponic systems or in soil (P < 0.05). Similarly, no significant differences in phenolic and flavonoid content were found in all the crops grown in two different systems. An average increase of 30 – 35% in the product yield was observed in aeroponically grown crops as compared to those grown in the soil.