Anti-oxidative activities of sorghum, foxtail millet and proso millet extracts

Abstract

In this study, sorghum, foxtail millet and proso millet extracts were evaluated by various in vitro antioxidant assays, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, reducing power by Fe3+- Fe2+ transformation, and anti-lipid peroxidative activity by ferric thiocyanate. The sorghum extract contained high amount of phenolic compounds as well as a high level of antioxidant activity compared with foxtail millet and proso millet extracts. In addition, among the sorghum cultivar, me-susu (Sorghum dochna var. technicum, Snowden) extracts exhibited high levels of free radical scavenging activity, anti-oxidant capacity and anti-lipid peroxidative activity compared with - tocopherol. Taken together, these findings suggest that me-susu extracts can be considered good sources of natural anti-oxidants.