Antioxidant capacity and antioxidant content in roots of 4 sweetpotato varieties.

The antioxidant contents (beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, and vitamin C) as well as the antioxidant capacity (ORAC, FRAP, and ABTS) of 4 sweetpotato varieties were measured in this study. The sweetpotato varieties were cultivated under different water regimes and also subjected to thermal processing. The results show that the 2 orange-fleshed varieties (Resisto and W-119) contain significant more beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, and vitamin C than the 2 cream-fleshed varieties (Bosbok and Ndou). Thermal processing decreased the carotenoid and vitamin C content of all the varieties but increased the chlorogenic acid content and antioxidant capacity. Drought stress appears to increase the beta-carotene, vitamin C, and chlorogenic acid contents as well as the antioxidant capacity of some of the sweetpotato varieties, especially W-119.