As expected, the IP and LP contained the most part of proteins (about 1.09 ± 0.19 mg and
3.29 ± 0.26 mg of proteins per gram of dried extract, respectively), where very low protein content was
detectable in UP fraction (about 0.35 ± 0.03 mg/g of dry weight, DW, of extract). Phenol compounds
were detected in all the three fractions, the most part being in the LP (about 520 μg of gallic ac.
equivalents/g of dried extract) compared to UP and IP fractions (245 μg/g DW and 221 μg/g DW of
extract, respectively). All the three fractions showed considerable antioxidant activity correspondent to
865, 1433 and 6294 nmol of Trolox equivalents (TE) per gram of dried sample in UP, IP and LP,
respectively. The most antioxidant activity appeared related to the LP, since its value remained higher
compared to the other fractions also when normalized to proteins or total phenols content
(Figure 4C1–C3). Since the LP showed the highest content of both proteins and phenols, the nature of
the antioxidant compound(s) cannot be identified at this level of analysis.