APARNA KUNAJUVERIA SULTANA2016-10-102016-10-102015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/80334India is the largest producer of safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) (0.09 million tonnes) in the world with highest acreage (0.16 million hectares), but with an average productivity of only 641kg/ha (Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, 2014), a multipurpose crop, has been grown for centuries in India for the orange-red dye (carthamin) extracted from its brilliantly colored flowers and for its quality oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, 78%). The tender leaves, shoots and thinnings of safflower are used as pot herb, green leafy vegetable and salad. Studies have found that intake of antioxidants as food supplements has an effective role in maintaining and promoting health in coronary artery diseases and some types of cancers have shown a reversed relationship with the consumption of food rich in Polyphenols. These studies have led to a special attention to natural resources for the purpose of finding an antioxidant molecule. (kaviarasan et al., 2007). The following study was done to study the “Antioxidant activity of safflower petal (Carthamus tinctorius linne)”. The results of antioxidant activity of six varieties of safflower petals revealed that the variety NARI-6 had the highest DPPH scavenging activity (341.54±5.68%) and reducing power assay (3.51±0.00absorbance) which were statistically significant (p>0.01). Hence NARI-6 and Annigeri-1 variety petals were selected for the development of products. The sensory evaluation results indicated that NARI-6 Safflower petal incorporated biscuit (SFPB) T1 at 4g incorporation had the highest overall acceptability (4.01±0.79). The SFPB T1 was further used for physico-chemical and nutrient analysis, the scores obtained are TA (0.36±0.16%), TSS (2.5±0.1°B), pH (6.60±0.00) and color L* (54.43±0.04), a* (19.82±0.05), b*(46.25±0.03). The titrable acidity of NARI-6 dried petals was 0.8 % citric acid. This could be due to the loss of ascorbic acid during product development. Titrable acidity was studied to ensure physico-chemical changes during preparation of the product (Sandhu et al., 1985) and during storage (Karla and Tandon, 1985). The proximate results of SFPB are as follows, carbohydrate (86.33±0.12%), protein (5.62±0.09%), fat (2.16±0.16%), crude fiber (0.6±0.3%), total carotenoids (2396.33±20.18 μg/100g) and ascorbic acid (1188±198 mg/100g) shows that the SFPB is good source of major nutrients. The antioxidant stability on storage revealed the scavenging DPPH radical activity on 0th day was the highest (95.58±3.70%). The antioxidant activity was decreased significantly (p>0.01) from 15th day to 30th, and 45th day (57.35±23.66%), (56.99±11.87%), (44.73±11.99%) respectively. Wang et al., 2010, determined a poor ferrous ion-chelating effect from the carotenoid extract (1.8%) while showing high DPPH activity (70.6%) concluding that, having metal chelating activity of the studied extracts may be due to the strikingly higher phenolic contents. The reducing power activity on 0th day was the highest (3.17±0.05absorbance). The reducing power activity was found to be decreased significantly from 15th day to 30th, and 45th day (2.14±0.05absorbance), (1.01±0.00absorbance), (0.23±0.00absorbance) respectively. The super oxide anion radical activity on 0th and 15th day were (474.26±2.37%, 233.06±0.46%) respectively and on 45th day it was found to be similar to 0th day values (465.10±58.13%) which is statistically significant (p>0.01) when compared with 15th day. The total flavonoids content decreased from 0th to 15th to 30th day (129.93±0.94μg RE to 108.66±0.73 μg RE to 28.01±0.06 μg RE) respectively while on 45th day of storage the total flavonoid content of SFPB significantly (p>0.01) increased to 102.57±3.44μg of RE. Flavonoids quenches the free radicals and chelates the metallic ions. Flavonoids are ideal scavengers of peroxyl radicals due to their favorable reduction potentials relative to alkyl peroxyl radicals and thus, in principle, they are effective inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. (Polovka et al., 2003). The variation of total phenolic content from 0th to 15th day were statistically significant (p>0.01) (23.26±0.99 μg PE), (35.17±0.27μg PE) respectively, whereas it was lowest on 30th day (5.96±0.72μg PE) and was highest on 45th The results of Pearson’s correlation for antioxidant activity of SFPB on storage was scavenging DPPH radical activity positively correlated with reducing power assay (r = 0.75**) which was statistically significant (p>0.01) while DPPH activity negatively correlated with super oxide anion radical activity (r = -0.52 day (93.6±0.41μg PE). NS ) which was not statistically significant (p>0.01). There is a very good distribution of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, fiber, carotenoids, antioxidants in the safflower petal varieties and the incorporation in the products should be commercialized to enhance the health of the individuals against diseases.encrops, antioxidants, acidity, aromatic compounds, biological phenomena, diseases, application methods, developmental stages, productivity, fruitsThesis