In my study, I prepared herbal teas using plant samples that were:
- Fresh (control)
- Shade-dried
- Microwave-dried at 360W and 600W
Teas were prepared in distilled water via maceration for 8 hours, and antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH method. Results:
- Fresh: 35.16% inhibition
- Shade-dried: 11.54%
- Microwave 360W: 82.30%
- Microwave 600W: 84.17%
Since shade-dried and microwave-dried samples showed significant differences, I conducted additional analyses:
Do you think these anatomical and biochemical analyses are sufficient to explain the observed differences in antioxidant activity (DPPH inhibition)? Would you recommend any other supportive analyses to further validate the interpretation?
Thank you in advance for your valuable feedback.
Anatomical and browning index analyses provide useful insights but are not enough alone to explain DPPH differences in dried herbal teas. Adding total phenolic/flavonoid content and compound profiling (e.g., HPLC) is recommended for a comprehensive understanding of antioxidant activity variations.
Dear Abdelhak Maghchiche,
Although content analysis was not performed for each tea, the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) of all teas were examined. The results showed the following order: 600W > 360W > Shade drying, which is consistent with the DPPH results.
What W-stands for "600W > 360W > Shade"?
The TPC is basically the protocol to measure the total antioxidant content. Flavonoids are antioxidants. If you have more flavonoids, you have a higher antioxidant activity. I would not recommend DPPH assay for water soluble antioxidants. The ABTS is better for teas.
Dear Yurii V Geletii,
Thank you for your comment and valuable suggestions.
The "W" refers to the microwave power levels used during the drying process — specifically, 600W and 360W. These were the power settings applied to dry the herbal samples, as part of the experimental design. Also, shade refers to teas made from plants dried in the shade.
The order 600W > 360W > Shade reflects the trend observed in bioactivity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC), with 600W yielding the highest values and shade drying the lowest.
Thank you for your advice about DPPH and ABTS. I will take your advice and comments into consideration.
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