Abstract: Selenium, vitamin C, pungency, amino acids, phenolics content and antioxidant activities of two Egyptian onion varieties, namely white (Giza-6) and red (Beheri) onions have been studied. Data analysis showed that the red variety presents higher values for selenium, vitamin C and sulphur-containing amino acids. Concerning pungency, white onion can be classified as intermediate pungency (8.24 μmol of Pyruvic acid/100 g fresh wt.) and red as pungent (11.37 μmol of pyruvic acid/100 g fresh wt.). The phenolic acids, flavonols, anthocyanins and total phenolics content in red variety (81.59, 70.38, 7.56 and 187.17 mg/100 g fresh wt., respectively) were higher than for white variety (72.47, 32.49, 4.90 and 131.65 mg/100 g fresh wt., respectively). Consequently, antioxidant activity was higher for the red variety. Correlation analysis indicates that phenolic compounds beside other factors including Se and sulphur-containing amino acid contents play the major role in the antioxidant activity of onion bulbs. The antioxidant capacity of freeze dried powder from both onion varieties was also tested in sunflower oil-in-water emulsions and hydroperoxide formation was monitored during storage at 40°C. In accordance with differences in Se, sulphur-containing amino acid and phenolics content, Egyptian red onions had better antioxidant activity, while white onions was only effective in the early stages of the oxidation process. These data indicates that red variety has higher potential health benefits related to the presence of antioxidant compounds.
INTRODUCTION
Onions (Allium cepa L.), have world-wide importance, ranking second among all vegetables in economic importance after tomatoes (Griffiths et al., 2002). The average intake in the world is 7 kg capita-1 year-1, being Libya (32 kg capita-1 year-1) and Turkey (27 kg capita-1 year-1) the main consumers (FAOSTAT, 2005). In Egypt, onion is the third vegetable more consumed (15 kg capita-1 year-1), after potato and tomatoes and it is cultivated all over the country concentration in delta area and Upper Egypt (84.3% of total area) and new land areas (15.7%), being white (Giza-6) and red (Beheri) onions the most produced varieties. The current production area is being around 122,552 Feddan with total production 1.3 million ton. According to the physical and chemical properties, the red onion variety is predominant in the Egyptian diet while the white onion directed to dehydration process. Dehydrated onion production has increased by at least 40% over the past ten years with current production being around 10,000 metric ton year-1.
Beside the nutritional value and unique flavour, onion shows a variety of pharmacological and nutritional effects such as growth-inhibition of tumor and microbial cells, immunostimulatory properties, enhancing reproduction, improving the growth performance (body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion), reduction of cancer risk and protection against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes as well as ageing, which are attributed to phenolic compounds (flavonoids, antocyanins, phenolic acids and flavonols), organosulphur compounds, vitamins and some minerals (Teyssier et al., 2001; Furusawa et al., 2003; Kamal and Daoud, 2003; Campos et al., 2003; Gabler et al., 2003; Ismail et al., 2003; Wang et al., 2005). Also, the ability of these compounds to acts as antioxidants has been demonstrated in the literature. Several researchers have investigated the antioxidant activity of flavonoid compounds and have attempted to define the structural characteristics of flavonoids that contribute to their activity (Nieto et al., 1993; Foti et al., 1996; Santas et al., 2008). Phenolic acids, such as caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic, sinapic, p-coumaric acids, vanillic, syringic and p-hydroxybenzoic appear to be active antioxidants (Larson, 1988; Ibrahim et al., 2004). Vitamin C has a protective function against oxidative damage and a powerful quencher of singlet oxygen (1 O2), hydroxyl (OH.) and peroxyl (RO2) radicals (Niki, 1991). Antioxidant activity is fundamental property important for life. Many of the biological functions, such as antimutagenicity, anticarcinogenicity and antiaging, among others, originate from this property (Hung and Ferrao, 1992; Cook and Samman, 1996).
The aim of this study is to quantify the selenium, vitamin C, pungency, sulphur-containing amino acids, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of two Egyptian onion varieties. Also, the antioxidant capacity of the onion samples was determined by measurement of hydroperoxide formation in stored sunflower oil-in-water emulsions, in order to study effects in a model food system.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
Onion samples were obtained from the most widespread local cultivar in the
typical area of production, red onion (Beheri) from Tala City, Minufiya Governorate
and white onion (Giza-6) from Bani Mazar city, Minia Governorate, Egypt.
Chemicals and Reagents
Phenolic compounds, sodium pyruvate standards and alumina column were purchased
from Fluka Chemical Co., Switzerland, while vitamin C, amino acids, α-tocopherol,
butyhydroxy anisitol (BHA) and butylhydroxy toluene (BHT) standards from Sigma
Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo. All other reagents and solvent were of analytical
or HPLC grade were purchased from (Fisher, UK). De-ionized water (Milli-Q 18.2
MΩ) was used in the preparation of the mobile phases, reagent solutions
and standards.
O-phathaldehyde 2-mercaptoethanol (OPA-2ME) reagent was prepared according to Lindroth and Mopper (1979) with minor modification. Briefly, 27 mg amount of OPA was dissolved in 0.5 mL of methanol and 5 mL of 0.1 M sodium tetraborate (pH 9.65) are added, followed by 20 μL of 2-ME. The reagent is kept overnight before use and the strength was maintained by addition of 10 mL 2-ME every week.
Equipment’s
In the present study, a SP Thermo Separation Products Liquid Chromatograph
(Thermo Separation products, San Jose, CA, USA) was used with a pump Consta
Metvic 4100, a Spectra Series AS100, Spectra System UV 1000 UV/Visible Spectrophotometer
Detector, Spectra System FL 3000 and a PC 1000 system software. The columns
used were reversed-phase water Spherosorb ODC-2 (3 μM; 150x4.6 mm I.d.,
Alltech USA) for phenolics; a guard column 7.5x3.2 mm containing 5 μm,
C-18 reversed phase Econosphere was attached directly to a reversed-phase C-18
column (3 μm; 150x4.6 mm I.d. (Alltech, Carnforth Lancashire, UK) for amino
acids and a reversed-phase water Adsorbosil C18 (5 μM, 100x4.6
mm I.d., Alltech USA) for vitamin C analysis.
Experimental Design
This research project was conducted in Nutrition and Food Science Department, Minufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt from the year 2006 to 2008. After harvesting (mid of March, 2007), the onion samples were stored with skins for three months at an average temperature of 25±2°C. When bulbs were ready for sale (Mid of June), twenty bulbs for each sample were selected to obtain the representative samples. Analysis were carried out on the edible portion (only the internal part of bulbs) and the results are represented as the mean value of five samples (fresh weight±SD). Other samples were prepared for antioxidant evaluation in oil-in-water emulsion as follow: onions were skinned, chopped, blended and finally freeze-dried. The freeze-dried onions were ground in a mortar, in order to obtain a fine powder and were stored at 4°C in the dark and dry atmosphere until used.
Analytical Methods
Selenium
Bulbs defatted samples are digested as described by Singh
et al. (1991), selenium analyzed in ICP-MS, using a PerkinElmer,
Inc., Model D-6355A in the Central Lab., SEOES, Plymouth University, UK.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C was extracted according to the methods of Moeslinger
et al. (1994). The chromatographic conditions were flow rate, 1 mL
min-1; detection, UV absorption at 254 nm, volume of injection, 20
μL; temperature, room temperature and mobile phase composition was an isocratic
system of 100% methanol.
Amino Acids
Amino acids were analyzed in HPLC according to the method of Lindroth
and Mopper (1979) with some modifications. For OPA-2-ME derivatives, a 200
μL of onion sample hydrolysates or standard mixture of amino acids was
mixed with 20 μL of iodoacetic acid (0.8 M in 0.1 M sodium borate buffer,
pH 10.5) and 150 μL of 0.1 M sodium borate buffer (pH 11.5). After incubation
for 30 sec at room temperature 20 μL of OPA-2-ME reagent was added and
after 30 sec 40 μL of the reaction mixture was injected onto the HPLC system.
A gradient elution using methanol was performed for better analytes separation
and column cleansing prior to subsequent injections. The elution profile was
: 0-2 min, 5-10% B; 2-11 min, 10-35% B; 11-20 min, 35-65% B; 20-22%, 65-100%
B; 22-24 min, isocratic 100% B; 24-30 min, 100-5% B. Separations were performed
at ambient temperature using a flow rate 1.5 mL min-1. The fluorescence
detector was set to operating at 340 nm in the excitation and 455 nm in the
emission mode.
Phenolic Acids
Fresh onion bulbs were cut into small cubes, which were placed into freeze-drying
jars and then frozen in liquid nitrogen. The frozen samples were lyophilized
(Birchover Ltd., Letchworth, Herts) for 72 h then grounded in a wily mill (Tecator,
Boulder, Co., USA) fitted with 60-mesh screen sieve. The obtained samples powder
were packed in opaque air tied bags and stored at -20°C until HPLC analysis.
The phenolic acid extracts were prepared according to the method of Onyencho
and Hettiarachchy (1993). The chromatographic conditions were as following:
Flow rate, 1 mL min-1; detection, UV absorption at 265 nm, fluorescence
Ex: 250 nm - Emλ: 400 nm; volume of injection, 20 μL and temperature,
room temperature. The mobile phase composition was an isocratic system of methanol
and ammonium acetate buffer, pH 5.4 (12 : 88, v/v).
Flavonols
Flavonols were extracted and analyzed in HPLC according to the method of
Hertog et al. (1992). Sample peaks were quantified
with the external standard method.
Anthocyanins
The anthocyanins were extracted from onion tissues by suspending 1.5 g of
homogenized tissue in 5 mL of methanol (0.1% HCl) at room temperature for 10
min. The extract was filtered and used for HPLC analysis as described by Fossen
et al. (1996) with some modifications described by Gennaro
et al. (2002).
Pungency
Pyruvic acid concentration was determined using the Schwimmer
and Weston (1961) method. A representative sample (15 quarters, one from
each bulb) of each cultivar was crushed in an electric mincer, incubated with
2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and read the absorbance at 420 nm on a spectrophotometer
for total pyruvic acid concentration, that were determined against a sodium
pyruvate standard curve.
Antioxidant Activity
Minced bulbs (5 g) were extracted with 80% aqueous methanol (100 mL) on
an orbital shaker for 120 min at 25°C. The mixture was subsequently filtered
(Whatman No. 5) on a Buchner funnel and the filtrate was assayed for antioxidant
activity. Antioxidant activity of onion extracts and standards (α-tocopherol,
BHA and BHT) was determined according to the β-carotene bleaching method
following a modification of the procedure described by Marco
(1968). Antioxidant activity was calculated in four different ways. In the
first, absorbance was plotted against time, as a knit curve and the absolute
value of slope was expressed as antioxidant value (AOX). Antioxidant Activity
(AA) was all calculated as percent inhibition relative to control using the
following equation (Al-Salkhan et al., 1995).
where, Rcontrol and Rsample were the bleaching rates of β-carotene in reactant mixture without antioxidant and with plant extract, respectively.
The third method of expression based on the Oxidation Rate Ratio (ORR) was calculated according to the method of Marinova et al. (1994) using the Equation:
where, Rcontrol and Rsample are the same in the earlier equation.
In the fourth method, the Antioxidant Activity Coefficient (AAC) was calculated as described by Mallett et al. (1994).
Where:
| AbsS 120 | = | The absorbance of the antioxidant mixture at time 120 min |
| AbsC 120 | = | The absorbance of the control at time 120 min |
| AbsC 0 | = | The absorbance of the control at zero time |
Total Phenolics
Two grams of the minced bulb was extracted for 2 h with 20 mL of 80% MeOH
containing 1% hydrochloric acid at room temperature on an orbital shaker set
at 200 rpm. The mixture was centrifuged at 1000 g for 15 min and the supernatant
decanted into 4 mL vials. The pellets were combined and used for total phenolics
assay. Total phenolics were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (Singleton
and Rossi, 1965). Results are expressed as ferulic and equivalents.
Antioxidant Evaluation in Oil-In-Water Emulsion
Oil in water emulsions were prepared with 1% of Tween 20 emulsifier and
10% of sunflower oil, previously filtered through alumina column, as described
by Yoshida (1993), in order to remove the tocopherols.
The oil was added dropwise to the aqueous samples containing emulsifier cooled
in an ice-bath, while sonicating for 5 min in total. Freeze-dried powder of
both kinds of samples were added directly to the emulsion and homogenized, obtaining
final concentration of 10, 20 and 30 mg mL-1. For control, no sample
was added. All emulsions were stored in triplicate in 25 mL amber bottles in
the dark and allowed to oxidize at 40°C. Peroxide Value (PV) was measured
periodically using aliquots of 0.005-0.1 g of each sample and determined by
the ferric thiocyanate method (Frankel, 1998) after calibrating
the procedure with a series of oxidized oil samples analysed by the AOCS Official
Method Cd 8-53.
Statistical Analysis
An analysis of variance was performed to compare differences between varieties
using Student t-test. The correlation studies were performed by using MINITAB
12 computer program (Minitab Inc., State College, PA).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Selenium, Vitamin C, Pungency and Amino Acids Levels
The red onion has higher levels of Se and ascorbic acid respect to the white
onion (Table 1). The present data are in accordance with that
obtained by Rodrigues et al. (2003) who found
that Povoa red onion in Northwest Portugal has higher level in minerals than
the white once. This variation explained that the effect of regional varieties,
environment beside the genetic factors. A higher level of Se in both white and
red onion bulbs varieties could be played a significant role in nutritional
point of view as a functional plant food.
| Table 1: | Selenium, vitamin C, pungency and sulphur-containing amino
acids levels of onion varieties per 100 g of edible portion |
| NS: Non significant. *, **, ***Significant at p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.0001, respectively | |
The amounts of white and red onion bulbs consumed by adultman to cover the daily requirements in Se (70 μg) were 6.6 and 4.1 g, respectively. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element. Its importance for human and animal metabolism has become apparent more recently, spurred by the discovery of a Se-dependent enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (widely distributed in tissues) and suggestive evidence that selenium plays a role in the prevention of certain forms of cancer (Linder, 1991; Packer, 1992).
The studying of amino acid profiles indicated that the red onion has higher levels of sulphur-containing amino acid than the white once (Table 1). Sulphur-containing amino acids with other organo-sulphur compounds are known to be very important for onion flavour biosynthesis (Randle, 1997).
Although, onions have a significant nutritional and medicinal value to the human diet, they are primarily consumed for their unique flavour and for their ability to enhance the flavour of other foods (Kopsell and Randle, 1997). Flavour intensity in onion is dominated by organosulphur compounds arising from the enzymatic decomposition of S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine S-oxide flavour precursors and the primary products produced include pyruvate, ammonia and sulphenic acids (Ketter and Randle, 1998). Sweetness in onion is a balance between single sugars and pungency and onions may be classified as to pungency in: very sweet (1-4 μmol pyruvic acid g-1 fresh wt.); sweet (5-7 μmol pyruvic acid g-1 fresh wt.); intermediate pungency (8-10 μmol pyruvic acid g-1 fresh wt.); pungent (11-15 μmol pyruvic acid g-1 fresh wt.) very pungent (>15 μmol pyruvic acid g-1 fresh wt.). In this study, white variety is classified as intermediate pungency and red as pungent (Table 1). Consumption of the more pungent onion variety resulted in a more pronounced reduction in total blood cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and triglycerides, than the milder pungent cultivars (Gabler et al., 2003).
Phenolic Compounds
The term of phenolic compound embraces a wide rang of compound plant substances,
which possess in common an aromatic ring bearing one or more hydroxyl substituents.
They most frequently occur combined with sugar glycoside and usually located
in the cell vacuole. Among the natural phenolic compounds, of which several
thousand structures are known, the flavonoids form the largest group but simple
monocyclic phenols and phenolic acids, anthocyanins, phenylpropanoids, tannins
and phenolic quinones all exist in considerable numbers. Phenolic acids are
a group of phenolic compound, which may be identified as hydroxycarboxylic acids
with phenolic hydroxyl groups (Harborne, 1998). These acids
are either associated with lignin combined as ester groups or present in the
alcohol-insoluble fraction of the leaf, alternatively they may be present in
the alcohol-soluble fraction bound as simple glycosides.
The present data indicated that two phenolic acids subgroup are found in onion i.e., benzoic and cinnamics. The red onion contains higher levels of total phenolic acids detected. Chlorogenic acid represents the major phenolic acids predominance (more than 90%) in both varieties (Table 2). All of these data are partially in accordance with that found by others (Emam et al., 2002). No vanillin and caffeic acids were found in these onion varieties. Many of detected phenolic acids in onion exhibits their antioxidative (Deschamps et al., 1991; Laranjinha et al., 1994), anticarcinogenic (Gali et al., 1991; Harttig et al., 1996) and antibacterial (Nakane et al., 1990; Nowosielska et al., 1991) effects.
Flavonoids are built upon a diphenylpropane skeleton (C6-C3-C6) in which the three-carbon bridge between the phenyl groups is usually cyclized with oxygen. They are generally present in plants bound to sugar as glycosides and any one flavonoid aglycone may occur in a single plant in several glycosidic combinations. Flavonoids widely present in vegetables such as onions, are potent antioxidants (Hertog et al., 1993). Two flavonoids subgroup are found in onion, the anthocyanins, which impart a red/purple colour to some varieties and flavonols, such quercetin and kaempferol, responsible for the yellow and brown skins of many varieties (Griffiths et al., 2002). Such as shown in Table 2 the red onion contains higher levels of all flavonoids detected including flavonols and anthocyanins. Major flavonols in both onion varieties are quercetin compounds, quercetin-3, 4’-diglucosides and quercetin-4’-gluciside. For anthocyanins, delphinidin derivatives are predominant in both onion varieties as found by Rodrigues et al. (2003). Several studies reported that the red bulb colour is influenced by anthocyanin contents (Griffiths et al., 2002; Rodrigues et al., 2003).
| Table 2: | Phenolic compounds levels in onion varieties (mg/100 g of
edible portion) |
| NS: Non significant. *, **, ***Significant at p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.0001, respectively | |
With the nutritional point of view, it has been demonstrated that humans absorb part of the quercetin glucosides accumulating them as quercetin conjugates in the blood plasma (Ioku, 2002). Quercetin prevents oxidation of Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) in vitro by scavenging to free oxygen radicals. Its intake was inversely associated with coronary heart mortality possibly because flavonoids are able to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro (Hollman et al., 1996; Furusawa et al., 2003). Also, many flavonoids exhibit a wide range of biological effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antithrombotic and vasodilatory actions (Cook and Samman, 1996).
Antioxidant Activity
The antioxidant activity and total phenolics of white and red onion varieties
are shown in Table 3. The decrease in absorbance of β-carotene
in the presence of different methanolic onion extracts (and well-known antioxidants
used as standards) with the oxidation of β-carotene and linoleic acid is
shown in Fig. 1. The antioxidant activity of red onion bulbs
methanolic extract is superior to in white onion when it was calculated by the
four different methods used in this study.
In the correlation analysis, important differences were found between phenolics, Se, vitamin C, pungency and sulphur-containing amino acids levels and antioxidant activity of onion bulbs (Fig. 2a-d, 3a-d). When all onion varieties were included in the statistical analysis, there was a positive significant (p<0.05) relationship between phenolics [phenolic acids (R2 = 0.8617), flavonols (R2 = 0.9027), anthocyanins (R2 = 0.89.55), total phenolics (R2 = 0.9254)], Se (R2 = 0.8108) and sulphur-containing amino acids (R2= 0.8828) and antioxidant activity. Also, no correlations were observed between the vitamin C and pungency levels and antioxidant activity of onion bulbs.
| Table 3: | Antioxidant activity and total phenolics of methanolic extracts
of onion varieties |
| Fig. 1: | Antioxidant activity (Abs at 470 nm) of methanolic extracts
of onion bulbs assayed by the β-carotene bleaching method (BHT at 50
mg L-1 and 100 mg L-1 and α-tocopherol at 50
mg L-1 concentrations were used as references) |
| Fig. 2: | Correlation between different phenolic components detected
and antioxidant activity of both onion varieties: (a) antioxidant activity
vs. phenolic acids, (b) antioxidant activity vs. flavonols, (c) antioxidant
activity vs. anthocyanins and (d) antioxidant activity vs. total phenolics |
| Fig. 3: | Correlation between different components detected and antioxidant
activity of both onion varieties: (a) antioxidant activity vs. selenium
content, (b) antioxidant activity vs. vitamin C content, (c) antioxidant
activity vs. pungency and (d) antioxidant activity vs. sulphur-containing
amino acids |
These correlations confirm that phenolic compounds with others i.e., Se and sulphur-containing amino acid are mainly responsible for the antioxidant activity of onion bulbs. Several studies have reported a good correlation between the phenolics content of plant extracts and antioxidant activity. For example, Velioglu et al. (1998) reported that the correlation coefficient between total phenolics and antioxidative activities of 28 plant products, including sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, wheat germ, buckwheat, several fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants was statistically significant. Also, Lee et al. (1995) found that phenolic compounds including flavonoids, correlated well with antioxidant activity (r2 = 0.86) in 5 cultivars of fresh pepper (Capsicum annuum). Finally, Santas et al. (2008) reported that good correlations were observed between phenol content and antioxidant activity of two Spanish onion varieties.
Antioxidant Evaluation in Oil-Water Emulsion
Lipid oxidation is mainly responsible for off-flavour development in fatty
foods, so phenolic antioxidants should be studied in suitable food system. In
the present study, peroxide formation has been determined in sunflower oil-in-water
emulsions incubated at 40°C. Different amounts of dry onion powder of both
Egyptian varieties (10, 20 and 30 mg mL-1 emulsion) were added to
test their antioxidant activity. Figure 4 shows hydroperoxide
formation during emulsion storage. Samples from white onions showed little antioxidant
activity but red onion extracts were more effective. The higher antioxidant
activity of red onion powder in emulsions was in good agreement with its higher
levels of phenolics, Se and sulphur-containing amino acids.
In general, the data of this study with others proved the importance of using selected onion varieties and/or extracts as natural potent antioxidants in both therapy and food technology. The antioxidant activity of onion bulbs could be attributed mainly to the high levels of phenolics (phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins) beside Se and sulphur-containing amino acids. Many studies indicated that feeding of phenolic acid (ellagic) significantly increased the levels of reduced glutathione and glutathione reductase in liver and lungs of male and female mice as well as increase in inhibition of NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (Majid et al., 1991). The antioxidant activity of four phenolic acids like detected in onion bulbs, upon low density lipoprotein peroxidation were studied in vitro in a Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation model by Laranjinha et al. (1994). The addition of these acids exhibits a complex reaction with peroxyl radicals resulting in undefined inhibition periods of LDL oxidation and low reactivity with peroxyl radicals. Presumably, secondary radicals of these compounds are unable to initiate LDL oxidation.
| Fig. 4: | Effect of onion powder on Peroxide Value (PV) formed in stored
emulsions at 40°C |
Several researchers have investigated the antioxidative activity of flavonoids compounds and have attempted to define the structural characteristics of flavonoids that contribute to their activity (Nieto et al., 1993; Foti et al., 1996). Also, Se is an essential trace element. Its importance for human and animal metabolism has become apparent more recently, spurred by the discovery of a Se-dependent enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (widely distributed in tissues) and suggestive evidence that selenium plays a role in the prevention of certain forms of cancer (Linder, 1991). Regarding food technology applications, there are beneficial effects of onion addition to some foods, like traditional sausage chouriço to maintain oxidative stability. That is due to its flavonoid content, mainly quercetin, because they are potent antioxidants and function by interrupting the free radical chain in the propagation step of the oxidative process (Karastogiannidou, 1999). Also, the adding of phenolic acids including in onion bulbs to vegetable oils leads to significant decrease in the rate of hydrolysis, rancidity and formation of the toxic and carcinogenic substances during the deep frying process (El-Hassaneen, 2004).
In conclusion, the Egyptian onion varieties evidenced a great variability in chemical components due mainly to genetic factors and growing conditions. The antioxidant activity of red onion (Beheri) bulbs methanolic extract is superior to in white onion (Giza 6). Correlation analysis indicates that phenolic compounds with Se and sulphur-containing amino acid contents play the major role in the antioxidant activity of onion bulbs. Dry powder of both onion varieties retarded oxidation in an oil-in-water emulsion system. Red onions were more effective in retarding oxidation than white samples. Further work is in progress in our laboratory to elucidate the possibility of using the highly antioxidant activity of onion bulbs extracts in many nutritional and food technology applications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The financial support of New Beni Suef Company for Preservation, Dehydration and Industrization of vegetables (Beni Suef El-Guedida, Nile East, Beni Suef Governorate), Shinnawy Companies Group, Egypt, is gratefully acknowledged. Sincere thanks are also extended to Mrs. Rasha R. and Mrs. Marwa M., chemists in New Beni Suef Company, for samples preparation and lab assistance. We appreciate the assistance of Dr. Truscott J., SEOES, Plymouth University, UK, in ICP-MS operation and Se determination in onion samples.