UHWO student Shane Yaw was a participant in the Kikaha Summer Research Program.
“Quantification of the Antioxidant Content of Native Hawaiian Staples in Comparison to Common Vegetables Consumed in the United States and Africa” is the title of a Math + Science + X Seminar scheduled 10:30-11:30 a.m., Friday Nov. 17, in E132.
Former UH West Oʻahu student Shane Yaw studied this issue during this past summer with Dr. Joseph Bariyanga, quantifying the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant content (AOC) of Manihot esculenta (kalo or taro) and Manihot batatas (ʻuala or sweet potato) sampled from the UH West Oʻahu campus garden.
Yaw and Bariyanga further investigated the TPC and AOC of other commonly consumed vegetables that were sampled from Hawaiʻi, the mainland, and Africa to identify any variations between identical species of vegetables. Their hypothesis was that the TPC and AOC would vary by region of origin despite the sameness of species, which was shown by statistical analysis.
Yaw, now a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa biology student, was part of a 15-student cohort who were given an opportunity to create projects that developed and enhanced their academic and research skills through the Kikaha Undergraduate Research Program. They were also awarded up to $2,000 in stipends for completion of their projects.