Variation in contents of phenolic compounds during growth and post-harvest storage of pigeon pea seedlings

The variation in contents of seven phenolic compounds in pigeon pea seedlings during growth and storage was investigated. Maximum contents of vitexin, isovitexin and orientin were found in leaves growing 40 days, which were 0.99 +/- 0.06, 6.63 +/- 0.35 and 30.89 +/- 1.92 mg/g DW. Apigenin and luteolin were extensively distributed in leaves, stems and roots. Pinostrobin and cajaninstilbene acid were mainly accumulated in leaves, the peak values 3.53 +/- 0.18 and 2.49 +/- 0.13 mg/g DW appeared at the 60th day. Slight and steady increases of seven phenolic compounds were found in room temperature (25 degrees C) stored pigeon pea leaves up to 120 days. The highest accumulation of seven phenolic compounds at chilling temperature (4 degrees C) was observed at the 45th day, after which the contents decreased sharply. The stems extracts exhibited more efficient DPPH radical-scavenging ability while the roots extracts demonstrated the strongest lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.