Polyphenol content of modern and old varieties of Triticum aestivum L. and T. durum Desf. grains in two years of production.

Antiradical activity and total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of modern and old varieties of durum (9 varieties) and soft (17 varieties) wheat grains, sampled over two years (summer 2007 and 2008) in the same site, were determined in order to point out differences among varieties and between old and modern varieties. Nine compounds were identified by means of HPLC/MS, and their amount was determined. No correlation was found between antiradical activity and polyphenol or flavonoid contents. The temperature conditions in the 30 days before harvesting were the principal factor which differentiated the quantitative profile of polyphenols and the antiradical activity of the seeds (p < 0.001): high temperatures cause a drop in polyphenol content.