Embrapa Amazônia Oriental owns and active bank of peppers with different genotypes of the genus Capsicum, which have not been analyzed for their functional characteristics and antioxidant capacity yet. This study aimed to determine the contents of ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, total carotenoids and total antioxidant activity in iµMature and mature fruits of Capsicum peppers genotypes. The levels of vitamin C (100.76-361.65 mg 100 g-1 in iµMature fruits and 36.70-157.76 mg 100 g-1 in mature fruits) decreased with fruit maturity. Total carotenoids were not detected in iµMature fruits, however, values of 73.801349.97 mg g-1 were observed for mature fruits, according to the genotype. The contents of phenolic compounds increased in mature fruits (147.40-718.64 mg GAE 100 g-1) for eight out of nine genotypes evaluated. The pepper fruits showed significant antioxidant activity (55.02-92.03 µM trolox g-1 in iµMature fruits and 39.60-113.08 µM trolox g-1 in mature fruits). It was concluded that the degree of fruit maturation affected the contents of bioactive compounds of the genotypes evaluated. IAN-186301 and IAN-186324, for total carotenoids; IAN-186301, IAN-186311, IAN-186312 and IAN-186313, for ascorbic acid; IAN-186304 and IAN-186311, for phenolic compounds; and IAN-186311, for antioxidant activity, were considered the most promising genotypes, with potential to be used in breeding programs.
Capsicum L.; ascorbic acid; carotenoids; phenols
