Bioactive compounds, myrosinase activity, and antioxidant capacity of white cabbages grown in different locations of Spain

The influence of two Spanish growing locations with well-differentiated climatic conditions (northern and eastern areas) on the main bioactive compounds, glucosinolates (GLS), total phenolic compounds (TPC), and vitamin C, as well as myrosinase activity and antioxidant capacity in five white cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) cultivars was investigated. Cabbages with the highest concentration of total GLS presented the highest vitamin C level (r = 0.75, P ≤ 0.05) and the lowest antioxidant capacity (r = -0.76, P ≤ 0.05). The cultivars with the highest vitamin C content had the lowest myrosinase activity (r = -0.89, P ≤ 0.05) and antioxidant capacity (r = -0.86, P ≤ 0.05), whereas those with the largest TPC amount showed the highest antioxidant capacity (r = 0.71, P ≤ 0.05). Cabbage cultivars grown in the northern area of Spain with low temperatures and radiation led to higher mean values of myrosinase activity (29.25 U/g dm), TPC (10.0 GAE mg/g dm), and antioxidant capacity (81.6 μmol Trolox/g dm), whereas cultivars grown in the eastern area with high temperature and radiation led to larger mean values of GLS (14.3 μmol/g dm) and vitamin C (5.3 mg/g dm). The results of this investigation provide information regarding the most suitable Spanish growing location to produce white cabbage with an optimized content of health-promoting compounds.