Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Peanut Plant Parts

Edible peanut seed represents approximately forty percent of the total mass of the peanut plant at harvest. This plant material is a potential source of nutraceutical compounds. Aqueous acetone was used to extract polar compounds from the leaves and roots of peanut plants, and from the shells of peanut seeds. The antioxidant activities of the extracts using ORAC were determined and compared. The identities of some of the compounds present were determined using LC-TOF-MS. This initial study indicates the potential of the under utilized parts of the peanut plant as a source of compounds of nutraceutical interest.