A Evaluation of Antioxidant Potency of Indian Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) Cultivars Using DPPH and FRAP Assays
Abstract
The availability of high polyphenolic content in millets makes this recognized as a nutritionally rich cereal with significant antioxidant potential. The present study evaluated the antioxidant potency of aqueous extracts of ten cultivars each of Indian Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum) using DPPH radical scavenging and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. Finger millet cultivars exhibited DPPH activity ranging from 22.57 - 26.48% and FRAP values from 18.40 - 26.93%. Pearl millet cultivars demonstrated higher antioxidant activity with DPPH ranging from 27.13 - 31.84% and FRAP from 27.78 - 39.46%. Mean antioxidant values revealed significantly greater radical scavenging and reducing power in pearl millet compared to finger millet. These results highlight cultivar-specific variability and confirm the superior antioxidant potential of pearl millet aqueous extracts. The findings support the incorporation of millets in functional foods for health promotion.
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