This master's thesis investigated the effect of seed germination of two varieties of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) on phenolic compound content and antioxidant potential (AOP). Seeds of KC Dóra and Tiborszallasi were germinated for 96 h. Samples were taken every 24 h. The collected seeds were first defatted, then extracts were prepared using 70% ethanol as the extraction solvent. The content of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, total flavones and flavonols, and total flavanones and dihydroflavonols determined by spectrophotometric methods increased during the germination process. We measured the AOP of the seed extracts in a homogeneous and heterogeneous environment. Using the method to determine the ability to scavenge the DPPH• radical and the method to determine the ability to scavenge the superoxide anion radical, we found a higher AOP in non-germinated seeds compared with germinated seeds. Non-germinated seeds were also more effective in preventing linoleic acid oxidation in the emulsion. The trend of change in AOP was not consistent with the change in the content of total phenolic compounds. This was explained by correlations, which show that total flavonoids were the most successful in all three methods of determining AOP, but accounted for a lower proportion of total phenolic compounds in the extracts of ungerminated and germinated seeds.
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