Valorisation of phenolic composition, antioxidant and cell growth activities of tomato waste

Tomato waste, a by-product in juice processing, obtained from different tomato genotypes, was subjected to evaluation as potential source of phenolic antioxidants and anticancer agents. Some individual phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, were identified and quantified by HPLC. The antioxidant activity of tomato waste extracts was tested by measuring their ability to scavenge hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals by ESR spectroscopy. The highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.03 mg/ml) was obtained in the case of Novosadski niski waste extract. The Rutgers waste extract showed the best performance in scavenging superoxide anion radicals (IC50 = 0.45 mg/ml). Cell growth effects were determined in HeLa, MCF7 and MRC-5 cell lines by SRB test. In all cell lines antiproliferative effects were observed at higher investigated concentrations (⩾6.3 mg/ml). The strongest activity against cancer cells was observed by Saint Pierre extract in HeLa cell line (IC50 = 13.7 mg/ml).