Polyphenols and flavonoids contents in seed cake from Serbia confectionary sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

Polyphenols and flavonoids represent a group of compounds with high antioxidant activity. They are called nutraceuticals due to the many favorable effects on human health including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-allergenic, anti-microbial and anti-atherogenic actions. Those bioactive compounds can be extracted from many plant sources, including wastes from various food industries, and further be utilized for the development of various functional foods. Sunflower seed cake represents a waste from production of cold pressed sunflower oils. It can be exploited for isolation of various bioactive compounds which it contains. In this work, contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were determined in sunflower seed cakes (n=20) in order to assess potential of this by-product as a source of beneficial natural compounds.