Varietal Differences in the Antioxidative Properties of Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merr.] Seeds

The antioxidant defense system in the seeds of 18 different soybean varieties was evaluated by studying the concentrations of total antioxidants, ascorbate, glutathione, α-tocopherol, total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins. The activities of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.8.1.7) were also investigated in soybean seeds along with the concentrations of H2O2 and the lipid peroxidation (LP) rates were determined. Observations made in this study suggest that soybean seeds possess strong antioxidative defense system necessary for successfully ameliorating the toxicity of reactive oxygen species, and the varieties ADB-22, NRC-37 and LSB-1 have better antioxidative defense properties than other varieties, which will also enhance their nutritive values. Practical Applications Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important legume crop, cultivated for its protein, edible oil and antioxidants. The rich nutraceutical constituents of soybean that have been isolated in earlier investigations are attributed to their protective properties against cancers and cardiovascular diseases. This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive investigation of total antioxidant content, lipid peroxidation rates and secondary metabolites in the seeds of 18 different soybean varieties grown in India, which can be used for the identification of superior varieties with respect to its antioxidant properties for their consumption.