Determination of Antioxidant Activity of Some Varieties of Onion (Allium cepa L.) Grown in Sudan

Background: medicinal plants contain physiologically active ingredients that over the years have been exploited in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. objectives: this study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidant activity of seven varieties of onion (allium cepa) grown in sudan.methods: the antioxidant capacity was conducted based on the ability of the plant extracts to scavenge dpph radical. results: the extracts exhibited a notable dose dependent inhibition of dpph radical. shendi (red onion local strain) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with ec50 25.25 μg/ml followed by kassala (red onion local strain) and white onion while less scavenging activity was produced by green onion. conclusion: based on the results obtained in the present study, it can be concluded that allium cepa grown in sudan possesses sufficient antioxidant activities. moreover, the results of the in vitro antioxidant assay may coincide with the preference of sudanese people to red onion grown in north and east sudan among the other varieties .