Evaluation of bioactive components and antioxidant capacity of four celery (Apium graveolens L.) leaves and petioles

Abstract

The natural bioactive components and antioxidant capacity of leaves and petioles from four celery cultivars (“Benqin”, “Western”, “Baoqin”, and “Majiagou”) were compared and correlated through a nontargeted metabolomics analysis and partial least squares regression (PLS) analysis. A total of 18, 12, and 5 antioxidant components in the celeries investigated showed significant (P < 0.05) positive correlations with the DPPH and O2∙ – free radical scavenging activities and ferric ion reducing power (FRP), respectively. Apiin, apigenin, rutin and α-ionone (standard partial least square regression coefficients of 0.064–0.071) made the largest contributions to the DPPH scavenging activity, while oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, pantothenic acid, and vitamin E succinate (coefficients of 0.084–0.110) made the largest contributions to the O2∙ – scavenging activity. Comparing the levels of major antioxidants and antioxidant capacity in four celery leaves and petioles showed that celery leaves were a better source of natural antioxidants and scavenging free radicals than petioles. Among the leaves, “Majiagou” celery leaves contained the most types, and highest (P < 0.05) levels, of natural antioxidants (especially vitamins, flavonoids, and unsaturated fatty acids), resulting in the largest O2∙ – scavenging activity. Among the petioles, “Baoqin” and “Benqin” celery petioles contained the most types, and highest (P < 0.05) levels, of dominant antioxidants that were responsible for their larger O2∙ – and DPPH scavenging activities and FRP. These results provided a scientific basis for assessing the quality and application value of these four celery cultivars.

Keywords

• celery
• leaf
• petiole
• antioxidants
• antioxidant capacity
• partial least squares regression analysis