Year 2026, Volume 72 Issue 1
| Year : | 2026 |
| Volume : | 72 |
| Issue : | 1 |
| Authors : | Nikolina MIJUŠKOVIĆ, Dragana PETROVIĆ, Mijat BOŽOVIĆ, Milica ANTIĆ |
| Title : | BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS CONTENT AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALOF BEETROOT (Beta vulgaris L.) PEEL, POMACE, AND JUICE |
| Abstract : | Scientific research in the 21st century has increasingly focused on bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and their antioxidant properties due to their potential benefits for human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and determine the total content of bioactive compounds (phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and betalains) in peel and pomace extracts, as well as in freshly squeezed juice of Beta vulgaris L. Plant material was collected from two locations in Montenegro (Nikšić and Mojkovac) in September 2023.To compare extraction efficiency, two extraction methods (Soxhlet extraction and conventional maceration) and three solvents (water, methanol, and ethyl acetate) were used. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. The highest total phenolic content (70.01 mg GAE/g extract) and total tannin content (49.27 mg TAE/g extract) were observed in the ethyl acetate peel extract obtained by the Soxhlet method from the Nikšić location. The highest total flavonoid content (88.31 mg QuE/g extract) was recorded in the ethyl acetate peel extract from Mojkovac. Higher concentrations of betacyanins and betaxanthins in peel and pomace were detected in samples from Nikšić. Freshly squeezed beetroot juice from this location exhibited the highest levels of all analyzed bioactive compounds and showed pronounced antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀=24.99 μg/mL; FRAP=49.93 mmol Fe²⁺/L). Among the extracts, the strongest DPPH scavenging activity was observed in the ethyl acetate peel extract from Mojkovac, while the highest FRAP value was recorded for the methanolic peel extract from Nikšić. These results indicate that Beta vulgaris L., particularly its peel and fresh juice, is a valuable source of bioactive compounds with strong antioxidant potential, influenced by extraction method, solvent type, and geographical origin. |
| For citation : | Mijušković, N., Petrović, D., Božović, M., Antić, M. (2026). Bioactive compounds content and antioxidant potential of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) peel, pomace, and juice. Agriculture and Forestry, 72 (1): 333-352. https://doi:10.17707/AgricultForest.72.1.20 |
| Keywords : | Beta vulgaris L., antioxidant activity, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, betalains |
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