Abstract

Thirty samples of sorghum beers “dolo” were selected from traditionally fermented household manufacturers from Burkina Faso. Dolo samples were screened for theirtotal phenolic content, proanthocyanidins and putative antioxidant capacities, and were compared with industrial beers and wines. Total phenols were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Proanthocyanidins content were determined by the method of HCl-butanol hydrolysis. Antioxidant activities were evaluated both with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and by the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) using 2,2^’-azinobis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical) (ABTS^•+). The average contents of total phenols and proanthocyanidins were 506 µg GAE/ml of dolo and 45 µg APE/ml of dolo, respectively. An average antioxidant capacity was found in 148 µmol of TEAC per litre of dolo or 2.2 µmol of TEAC per gram of dolo. Proanthocyanidins in dolo represent on average, 10% of total phenolic content. Results also showed that the red wines from different brands had higher levels of phenolic content and antioxidant capacities than dolo. Nevertheless, dolo displays higher levels of total phenolic content than lager beers and white wines. Sorghum grains as well as their derived food-products such as local beers are good sources of bioactive compounds comparable to other industrial alcoholic beverages.

Key words: Sorghum bicolor, dolo, beer, total phenols, proanthocyanidins, antioxidant capacity.