Two einkorn wheat, one barley, three optional winter cultivation wheat and five winter cultivation wheat
samples harvested in Hungary in 2011, and their malts were evaluated for their DPPH radical and ABTS
radical cation scavenging activity, ferric reduction capacity (FRAP) and total phenolic content (TPC).
All einkorn and barley samples exhibited significant antioxidant activities determined by DPPH and
ABTS radical scavenging activities. The einkorn samples show higher polyphenol content than the other
wheat samples. In all cases the barley sample had the highest antioxidant potential and polyphenol
content. The einkorn malts had high DPPH and ABTS radical cation scavenging activities, but the phenolic
content was lower against wheat samples. There was significant difference between the antioxidant
potential of optional and winter cultivation wheat samples except on ABTS scavenging activities.
Einkorn wheat is potentially a new raw material to produce organic beer that might have beneficial
effects with its increased antioxidant potential.