Lipoxygenase Content and Antioxidant Activity of Some Fruits and Vegetables

SUMMARY The oxygen monitor was used in determining the linoleic acid oxidizing capacity of various plant tissues. Egg plant, potato, legume seeds, cauliflower and avocado contained considerable activity. The effects of nonionic detergents point to the presence of three types of lipoxygenase in the tissues tested. These are: (1) not affected by the detergent; (2) inhibited; and (3) either solubilized or stimulated by the detergent. Some tissues had considerable antioxidant activity as measured by their effect on commercial soybean lipoxygenase. These results lead to the conclusion that a low lipoxygenase activity may be due to the presence of antioxidants and definite conclusions cannot be drawn unless the enzyme is purified.