Phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of different heat-processed forms of sweetpotato cv. 'Beauregard'

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] cv. 'Beauregard' roots were cooked using three different heat-processing techniques (baked in a conventional oven, baked in a microwave oven, and boiled). Total phenolic content, individual phenolic acids, and antioxidant capacity were determined using Folin-Denis assay, HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydazyl) assay, respectively. The skin tissue (raw or processed) contained the highest concentration of total phenolics. All heat-processing methods resulted in a significant loss in total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the skin tissue. However, compared with the other processing methods, conventional oven baking resulted in greater losses in antioxidant capacity of skin tissue. Total phenolic content ranged from a low of 1.58 mg chlorogenic acid equivalent g(-1) dry tissue weight in boiled pith tissue to a high of 17.7 mg chlorogenic acid equivalent g(-1) dry tissue weight in raw skin tissue. The antioxidant capacity was highest in raw skin tissue (22.9 mg Trolox equivalent g(-1) dry tissue weight). Chlorogenic acid was the principal phenolic acid found in all sweetpotato tissues. Caffeic acid and three isomers of dicaffeoylquinic acid (diCQA) were also identified and quantified.