Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of mango peel, roselle seed, okara (by‐product of soya milk industry), cocoa shell and pink guava (by‐product of pink guava industry) in comparison to 6‐hydroxy‐2,5,7,8‐tetramethylchroman‐2‐carboxylic acid (Trolox). The β‐carotene bleaching, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and reducing power assays were used to determine the antioxidant capacity of selected by‐products by measuring the absorbance at 470, 520 and 700 nm, respectively. The results showed that methanolic extracts of pink guava and cocoa shell exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity compared to other studied samples. Roselle seed water extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging when extracted with water. Pink guava possessed the highest reducing power in methanolic extract at a concentration of 0.16 mg mL^−1^. At the same concentration, mango peel exhibited the highest reducing power when extracted with water. The present study shows that pink guava, roselle seed and cocoa shell are potential sources of antioxidant components that can be exploited as food preservative agents or nutraceuticals. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry