Comparison of ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, chlorophyll and antioxidant activity of fresh and dry wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.)

The study was conducted to compare ascorbic acid, β-carotene, chlorophyll and antioxidant activity of fresh and dry wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under indoor and outdoor cultivation. Three methods of drying i.e., shade-, oven-and freeze-drying were employed. All the three methods significantly reduced ascorbic acid, β-carotene, chlorophyll and antioxidant activity by 73.4 to 83.5, 38.7 to 73.4, 17.6 to 60.0 and 27.6 to 48.5%, respectively. Out of the three drying methods, oven-drying showed maximum reduction in all the parameters studied, followed by shade drying while least was observed in freeze drying method. Better retention of ascorbic acid and βcarotene was in outdoor cultivation of wheatgrass; whereas, higher retention of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity was observed in indoor cultivated wheatgrass.