The genus Brassica is related with the prevention of carcinomas, especially of
stomach, colon and recto and with the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Themost consumed Brassica species in Portugal is the tronchuda cabbage or
Portuguese cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC). This study
concerned the characterization of chemical composition (phenolics and organic
acids) and the evaluation of the antioxidant potential of tronchuda cabbage.
Seeds, sprouts, internal and external leaves were analysed. To evaluate the
antioxidant potential, the ability of tronchuda cabbage materials to act as a
scavenger of reactive oxygen species (superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical
and hypochlorous acid) was investigated. Additionally, it was found that
Pieris brassicae, a plague infesting Brassica cultures, exhibits interesting
antioxidant potential, once it sequesters, metabolizes and accumulates
phenolics. The possibility of commercialization of standardized aqueous
extracts of B. oleracea var. costata seeds, sprouts, internal and external leaves,
with nutritional and healthy potential benefits, is discussed.