The comparison of the phenolic content of pulse with antioxidant
activity revealed strong correlation (Table 5). The total phenolic
content correlated positively with tartaric esters and flavonol
contents (r= 0.85 and 0.47, pb0.0001, respectively), indicating that
extraction yielding high total phenolic content will result in extracts
enriched in tartaric esters and flavonols. The total phenolic and
tartaric esters were the best indicators of antioxidant activity, and
total phenolic content can therefore be used as the best predictor of
antioxidant activity based on its significant correlation. The correlation
coefficient between total phenolic and flavonols was reduced,
whereas that with anthocyanins improved when considering lentil
samples only.