Characteristics and antioxidant capacities of five hawthorn wines fermented by different wine yeasts

Different yeast strains can influence the characteristics and active constituents of hawthorn wines. Hawthorn wines were produced using five different yeasts and characterized in terms of their profiles of typical properties and antioxidant capacities. The wine antioxidant capacities of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2′‐azino‐bis‐3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid, superoxide anion (O₂ · ^–) scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were determined. It was found that the general wine compositions showed the expected variations. Except for yeast Lalvin W15 all of the yeasts exhibited good sugar‐utilizing ability and alcohol production. Yeast Lalvin 71B exhibited an excellent fermentation capability. Hawthorn wine fermented by yeast Lalvin 71B had the lowest residual sugar, titratable acidity and colour density and the highest alcohol content. SIHA Active Yeast 3 had good performance in respect to oxidation resistance. The highest content of anthocyanins and polyphenols in the wine was found with hawthorn wine fermented by SIHA Active Yeast 3, and this wine contained the highest antioxidant activity as determined by the DPPH assay, O₂ · ^– assay and FRAP. Statistical analysis indicated that pH value was significantly correlated with colour density (?0.954**) and alcohol content (0.905**) in the hawthorn wines. There was a strong positive correlation between the polyphenol content and the antioxidant activity as determined by the DPPH (0.915**) and FRAP (0.914**) assays, respectively. Copyright © 2013 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling.     

Natural volatile treatments increase free‐radical scavenging capacity of strawberries and blackberries

Free‐radical scavenging capacities of strawberries and blackberries treated with methyl jasmonate (MJ), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea‐tree oil or TTO), and ethanol (EtOH) were investigated. All of these natural volatiles tested reduced the severity of decay in both strawberries and blackberries during storage at 10 °C as compared to the control. Most of these compounds enhanced antioxidant capacity and free‐radical scavenging capacity, except the AITC treatment. The MJ treatment for strawberries and blackberries had the highest antioxidant capacity, expressed as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values, after 7 days of storage. Moreover, the MJ treatment promoted the antioxidant capacity in strawberries and blackberries as measured by the radical 2,2‐di (4‐tert‐octylphenyl) ‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the radical cation 2,2′‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS^?+) scavenging activity in both 7 and 14 days after storage. The MJ treatment also increased scavenging capacities on the superoxide radical (O₂^??), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydroxyl radical (^?OH), and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in strawberries and blackberries. Treatment with TTO or EtOH enhanced most of these free‐radical scavenging capacities, except for H₂O₂ in strawberries, and for O₂^?? and ¹O₂ in blackberries. These results indicated that all of the natural volatile compounds tested in this study, except AITC, promoted the antioxidant capacity and scavenging capacity of most major free radicals and, thus, helped to improve the physiology of berry fruits and enhanced their resistance to decay. While AITC was also very effective in reducing decay, its effect on free‐radical scavenging capacity was inconsistent, suggesting that additional mechanisms may be involved in its inhibition of fungal growth. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Forced‐air precooling treatment enhanced antioxidant capacities of apricots

Effects of forced‐air precooling on fruit quality and antioxidant system of apricot were evaluated in this study. Apricots were forced‐air precooled for 24 hr at 0°C, and then stored at 0°C for up to 20 days. Results showed that precooling treatment slowed down a decrease of titratable acidity (TA) and total soluble solids (TSS) during storage period, whereas it had no effect on pH and L* value. On the 15th day of storage, associated with higher flavonoids content, precooled fruit had 73.6% higher DPPH and 183% higher ABTS radical‐scavenging activities than the control. In addition, the peak of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was earlier, and H₂O₂ content was reduced by precooling treatment with respect to control. These results indicate that precooling treatment could maintain the quality of apricot by enhancing antioxidant activity.

Practical applications

Fruit with high antioxidants implies high nutritional value. In this study, we found forced air precooling induced an increase of antioxidant activity of apricots. Precooling treatment should be used to enhance the quality and nutritional value of apricots.     

Storage temperature and packaging condition affect the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of black soybeans and koji

In this study, powders of steamed black soybeans and the Aspergillus awamori‐fermented black soybeans (koji) were subjected to storage at 4 °C and 25 °C with or without deoxidant and desiccant for 120 days. It was found that total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity including the DPPH radicals scavenging effect, Fe²⁺‐chelating ability and reducing activity of the methanol extracts from black soybeans and koji decreased as the storage period was extended. Furthermore, storage temperature and packaging condition affected the antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of black soybeans and koji. After 120‐day storage, extract from black soybeans holding at 4 °C with deoxidant and desiccant exhibited the highest residual of DPPH radicals scavenging effect, Fe²⁺‐chelating ability and reducing activity of 71.78%, 72.66% and 70.04%, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest residual of 77.78%, 81.71% and 85.05% respectively, was noted with extract from koji held at 25 °C with deoxidant and desiccant.     

Effect of methyl jasmonate on quality and antioxidant activity of postharvest loquat fruit

BACKGOUND: Loquat fruit is rich in natural antioxidants and has shown a remarkably high antioxidant activity. To search for an effective method for maintaining or even improving antioxidant activity during postharvest storage, we investigated the effect of 10 µmol L^?1 methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment on levels of major individual sugars and organic acids, total phenolics, total carotenoids, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity in loquat fruit during storage at 1 °C for 35 days. RESULTS: The MeJA‐treated fruit exhibited significantly lower levels of respiration rate, ethylene production, phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase and polyphenol oxidase activities, and higher levels of sugars, organic acids, total phenolics and total flavonoids than control fruit. Meanwhile, the treatment also maintained significantly higher antioxidant activity as measured by the scavenging capacity against 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and by the reducing power test compared to the control. There was a significant positive linear relationship between total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity. CONCLUSION: MeJA treatment can improve the quality and functional properties of harvested loquat fruit by maintaining a higher level of antioxidants and enhancing antioxidant activity. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antioxidant and DNA protection activities of a glycoprotein isolated from a seaweed,Saccharina japonica

A glycoprotein with a molecular weight of ～10 kDa was purified from Saccharina japonica, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated using five different antioxidant assays. The highest antioxidant activities of the purified glycoprotein determined by DPPH, ABTS, SODA, SORS and FRAP assays were 85%, 95%, 94%, 72% and 97%, respectively. About 37% nitric oxide scavenging and 85% xanthine oxidase inhibition activities were also observed at a concentration of 5 mg mL^?1. The glycoprotein exhibited optimal activity levels of free radical scavenging at pH 7–9 and 40 °C. Antioxidant activity decreased when treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and metal ions. Moreover, its scavenging activity decreased when the glycoprotein was treated with deactivation agents such as pronase E or sodium periodate (NaIO₄), and it showed protective activity against DNA cleavage induced under oxidative conditions.     

Stability of Individual Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity During Storage of a Red Wine Powder

The addition of maltodextrin DE 10 to red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) followed by freeze-drying allowed to obtain a free-flowing (dealcoholized) wine powder (WP) having a phenolic concentration about 3.6 times higher than the original liquid red wine. The powder, having a water activity (a _w) of 0.053 and 0.330 was stored at 28 °C and 38 °C and the content of ten different phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC. Caftaric acid, quercetin 3-glucoside, caffeic acid, gallic acid and resveratrol contents in the WP stored at 28 °C and 38 °C, remained almost constant during 70 days of storage, while epicatechin gallate, catechin, malvidin 3-G and epicatechin showed slight losses (about 15–25 %) during storage. On the contrary, epigallocatechin experienced a strong loss of concentration (around 61 % loss) during storage at the same conditions. A moderate decrease of antioxidant activity, determined by free radical scavenging capacity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH*) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was observed along storage. This decrease was more important at higher temperature (38 °C) and higher a _w (0.33). These results would allow the feasibility of using this WP as a healthy ingredient in alcohol-free powder drinks.     

Antioxidant properties and shelf‐life extension of fresh‐cut tomatoes stored at different temperatures

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of using modified atmosphere packaging (5 kPa O₂ + 5 kPa CO₂) to maintain the antioxidant properties of fresh‐cut tomatoes during shelf‐life was assessed through storage at different temperatures (5, 10, 15 and 20 °C). Health‐related compounds, antioxidant capacity, microbiological counts, physicochemical parameters and in‐package atmosphere of tomato slices were determined. RESULTS: Initial lycopene, vitamin C and phenolic contents and physicochemical parameters of tomato slices were well maintained for 14 days at 5 °C. Lycopene and total phenolic contents were enhanced over time in tomato slices stored at 15 and 20 °C. However, this increase in antioxidant compounds of fresh‐cut tomatoes during storage may be associated with excessive amounts of CO₂ (R² = 0.5679–0.7328) in the packages due to microbial growth. Although keeping tomato slices at temperatures above 10 °C increased their antioxidant content, the shelf‐life of the product was reduced by up 4 days. CONCLUSIONS: A storage temperature of 5 °C is appropriate for maintaining the microbiological shelf‐life of fresh‐cut tomatoes for up to 14 days and also allows the antioxidant properties of tomato slices to be retained over this period, thus reducing wounding stress and deteriorative changes. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of high-voltage electrostatic field pretreatment on the antioxidant system in stored green mature tomatoes

BACKGROUND: High‐voltage electrostatic field (HVEF), as a feasible and non‐chemical technique, applied to food preservation is a new area of study. Our previous research suggested HVEF could maintain the quality of tomato in storage. The present article intensively investigated the effect of HVEF pretreatment on antioxidant system of green mature tomato in storage. RESULTS: Green mature tomatoes were exposed to negative (or positive) HVEF for 2 h at 20 °C and then stored for 24 days at 13 ± 1 °C, 85–90% relative humidity. The results indicated HVEF significantly reduced contents of O₂^? and H₂O₂ of tomato fruits during storage compared to the control. HVEF treatment also enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase. The contents of non‐enzyme antioxidant components including reduced glutathione, phenols and ascorbic acid also were increased by HVEF treatment. However, HVEF treatment did not increase the content of lycopene in tomato fruit. CONCLUSION: HVEF treatment could promote the antioxidant capacity of tomato fruits in storage. Further research is be highly recommended to understand the mechanisms improving the antioxidant capacity of tomato fruits by HVEF. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antioxidant activity of Bupleurum kaoi Liu (Chao et Chuang) fractions fractionated by supercritical CO2

Bupleurum kaoi Liu was mixed with ethanol at a ratio of 1:4 (v/w) for 24 h to yield ethanol extract. Extract was further fractionated using supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂) under the following operating conditions: 40°C and a pressure of 20, 15, 10 or 5 MPa into R, F1, F2 or F3 fractions, respectively. To assess the selectivity of the fractionation, four fractions were characterized in terms of total phenol contents, the antioxidant abilities and the antioxidant mechanisms. Experimental results indicated that fractionation altered the composition distributions and the antioxidant activities, including antioxidant ability, reducing power and the scavenging capacity of DPPH, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals. The antioxidant activities increased with fraction concentrations. The scavenging effect on DPPH of B. kaoi L. fractions at 10 g/l was R (53%), F1 (65%), F2 (71%), and F3 (76%), respectively. At a concentration of 5 g/l, all fractions can inhibit the O₂·^—formation by over 50%. Fractions R, F2 and F3 at concentrations of 3 g/l can trap over 50% of the OH groups. Notably, this in vitro study of antioxidant effects demonstrated that antioxidant activities were correlated well with the contents of phenol compounds. F3 fraction, contained the highest levels of total phenol contents, was the best inhibitor of lipid peroxidation and scavengers of DPPH, O₂·^— and ·OH radicals.     

Antioxidant activity of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) head protein hydrolysate prepared with Alcalase

The antioxidant activities of tuna head protein hydrolysate (THPH) prepared with Alcalase were evaluated. THPH showed evident radical scavenging activity in a dose‐dependent manner with the IC₅₀ values for 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals being 1.34, 1.20 and 2.84 mg mL^?1, respectively, and its reducing power was 0.948 at 12.5 mg mL^?1. THPH showed good inhibitory activity in soybean oil peroxidation after accelerated oxidation at 60 °C, and the oils with 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1% THPH had significantly (P < 0.05) lower peroxide values than the control, after storage at 60 °C. Moreover, the inhibited oxidation effect of 0.1% THPH was similar to that of 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The molecular weight distribution of THPH revealed that 70.5% of the total amount was peptides with molecular weight lower than 5000 Da, composing mostly of low molecular weight peptides located at 1020–2585 Da (30.78%) and 241–1020 Da (37.15%).     

Antioxidant function of tea dregs protein hydrolysates in liposome–meat system and its possible action mechanism

Tea dregs possess abundant proteins, and the objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of tea dregs protein hydrolysate with limited hydrolysis by protamex and its possible action mechanism. Tea dregs protein was hydrolysed by alcalase, protamex or neutrase. The hydrolysis condition was optimised, and the hydrolysate was characterised for 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical‐scavenging activity and antioxidant activity in linoleic acid (LA) system and in chicken products. Tea dregs protein hydrolysate (TDPH) was formulated (0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, w/w) into chicken products to determine in situ antioxidant efficacy. Thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value (POV) formed in chicken products during storage (4 °C, 0–7 days) were analysed. Results showed that the optimum hydrolysis condition was at 50 °C, pH 7.0 for 20 min, and the concentration of tea dregs protein was 1.5%; ratio of protamex to substrate was 6000 U g^?1. The radical‐scavenging ratio of TDPH to 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) was 90.30% at the concentration of 0.1 mg mL^?1 and that to hydroxyl radical was 65.18% at the concentration of 1.0 mg mL^?1. Moreover, it also showed strong antioxidant activity both in linoleic acid (LA) system and in chicken products. The molecular weight distribution of tea dregs hydrolysates was determined by nanofiltration tubular membrane, and the protein hydrolysates with molecular weight above 8000 Da had more effective antioxidant activity. The radical‐scavenging activities to DPPH and hydroxyl radical were 85.72% at 0.1 mg mL^?1 and 71.52% at 1.0 mg mL^?1, respectively. These findings suggest that the enzymatic hydrolysate of tea dregs protein probably possesses the specific peptides/amino acids which could stabilise or terminate the radicals through donating hydrogen. In addition, the hydrolysate could form a physical barrier around the fat droplets.     

Flavonoid content of several vegetables and their antioxidant activity

Several vegetables were selected to study their flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities. The results showed that both green and purple leaves of sweet potatoes (185.01 and 426.82 mg kg⁻¹ respectively) and the outer leaves of onion (264.03 mg kg⁻¹) possessed higher amounts of flavonoids, and more than 85% of free radical scavenging activities were evaluated by using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. In addition, green leaves of sweet potatoes and the outer leaves of onion showed higher reducing power and higher antioxidant activity in a linoleic acid system as compared to cabbage, spinach, potato and crown daisy. Blanching of green leaves of sweet potatoes for 30–60 s retained more flavonoids and higher free radical scavenging activities as compared to more than 1 min of blanching. The storage test showed that green leaves of sweet potatoes stored at 4–10 °C maintained better quality than those stored at room temperature. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phenolic acid composition and antioxidant properties of Malaysian honeys

Abstract: The phenolic acid and flavonoid contents of Malaysian Tualang, Gelam, and Borneo tropical honeys were compared to those of Manuka honey. Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP) and the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activities were also quantified. All honey extracts exhibited high phenolic contents (15.21 ± 0.51– 42.23 ± 0.64 mg/kg), flavonoid contents (11.52 ± 0.27– 25.31 ± 0.37 mg/kg), FRAP values (892.15 ± 4.97– 363.38 ± 10.57 μM Fe[II]/kg), and high IC₅₀ of DPPH radical‐scavenging activities (5.24 ± 0.40– 17.51 ± 0.51 mg/mL). Total of 6 phenolic acids (gallic, syringic, benzoic, trans‐cinnamic, p‐coumaric, and caffeic acids) and 5 flavonoids (catechin, kaempferol, naringenin, luteolin, and apigenin) were identified. Among the Malaysian honey samples, Tualang honey had the highest contents of phenolics, and flavonoids, and DPPH radical‐scavenging activities. We conclude that among Malaysian honey samples, Tualang honey is the richest in phenolic acids, and flavonoid compounds, which have strong free radical‐scavenging activities.     

Kinetics investigation of antioxidant capacity and total phenols of low‐temperature steeping Bi Luo Chun green tea

Traditionally, tea is steeped in boiled water in Taiwan. In this study, Bi Luo Chun (250 μg mL^?1) steeped at 4, 22, 30, 40 and 50 °C reached the saturation of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity at the time of 15, 8, 2, 0.17 (10 s) and 0.17 min (10 s), respectively. The result indicated that tea steeped in cold water (under 22 °C) still can reach a saturation of antioxidant capacity in 15 min. However, the initial scavenging rate (% min^?1) was quick and decreased with time at all steeping temperatures (r: ?0.98 to ?1.00). Total phenols and the DPPH scavenging capacity of Bi Luo Chun showed excellent correlation with time. However, the plot of DPPH scavenging capacity vs. total phenols was not always correlated. The result indicated that polyphenol infusion at different times may have a different DPPH scavenging capacity.     

Changes of heat-treated soymilks in bioactive compounds and their antioxidant activities under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

To investigate the influence of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of heat-treated soymilks, changes of total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), content and profile of isoflavones, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were assayed after different heat treatments (at 95 °C for 20, 40, 60 min; 121 °C for 3, 6, 9 min and 143 °C for 20, 40, 60 s respectively) and gastrointestinal digestion. Results showed that digestion significantly influenced the contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities of soymilks. Increases of DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP and ORAC of the heat-treated soymilks after gastric digestion were consistent with the increases of TPC (110.68–152.60 %) and TFC (4.48–31.10 %). In the dialysate fractions as the absorbable and utilized part, it was found that TPC, TFC, isoflavones and antioxidant activities (DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP and ORAC) were significantly decreased as compared with the gastric digestion fractions and duodenal fractions. Analysis showed that the bioaccessibility of TPC reached 107.17–125.14 %, TFC reached 34.63–67.19 % and total isoflavones reached 34.40–41.22 %, respectively, indicating the rich bioaccessible compounds in soymilk. Daidzein and its derivates were proven as the most bioaccessible isoflavones (about 36.99–44.14 %). Glucoside isoflavones showed the highest bioaccessibilities followed by malonylglucosides, acetylglucosides and aglycones. Overall, the soymilks treated at 95 °C and 60 min and 121 °C and 9 min had higher bioactive compounds contents, antioxidant activities and bioaccessibilities in the dialysate fractions.     

Kinetics of fructose on the Maillard brown colour development,pH change and antioxidative activity development in model fructose/glycine systems

Model fructose/glycine systems with fructose concentration between 0.035 and 0.28 m were incubated at temperature 45–90 °C for investigating the effects of fructose and temperature on the brown colour development, pH change and the antioxidative activity developments of Maillard reaction. The result showed that effects of fructose followed logarithm‐order kinetics on brown colour and DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (S_DPPH) development, and first‐order kinetics on system pH decrease. However, the effect of fructose on ABTS·⁺ (2,2′‐azino‐bis[3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid]) radical scavenging activity (S_ABTS) development was first order at 60–90 °C and logarithm order at 45 °C, which revealed the mutual synergistic interaction of concentration with temperature on S_ABTS development. Activation energy for S_DPPH development was lower than that for S_ABTS development, revealing that DPPH radical was more vulnerable than ABTS·⁺ radical to fructose/glycine MRPs at low temperature. But the relative vulnerability would invert at high temperature, as the Q₁₀ value for S_DPPH development was lower than that for S_ABTS development.     

Dietary fibre components,antioxidant activities and hydration properties of ripe persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. cv. Daebong) peel powders as affected by different washing treatments

Dietary fibre components, hydration properties and antioxidant activities such as 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power, metal chelating and 2,2′‐azino‐bis,3‐ethyl‐benzo‐thiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of persimmon peel powders using different washing treatments (tap water at 20 °C and hot water) were investigated. Peel powder obtained from hot water‐washed peels (74.95 g per 100 g) had higher dietary fibre content than tap water‐washed (65.50 g per 100 g) and unwashed (60.99 g per 100 g) peels. The higher content of total phenolic and ascorbic acid were found in peel powder obtained from unwashed peels, whereas washed peels had more β‐carotene content. The EC₅₀ values of scavenging DPPH and ABTS radical for peel powders obtained from unwashed, tap water‐washed and hot water‐washed peels were 75.44, 142.18 and 110.17 μg mL^?1 respectively and 5.31, 5.34 and 5.39 μg mL^?1 respectively. Therefore, hot water washing is recommended to obtain better quality products from persimmon peel for use as a fibre supplement.     

Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of Thai and Eri silk sericins

The present study investigates the phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of silk sericin extracted (SSE) from Thai mulberry silkworms (Bombyx mori) and non-mulberry silkworm (Samia ricini). The SSE from all strains revealed the mainly presence of flavonoid compounds including (+)-catechin (20.63–145.64 mg/100 g), quercetin (7.89–35.95 mg/100 g), and (−)-epicatechin (3.36–44.19 mg/100 g). The antioxidant activity of the SSE with water from Chokumnoui 1 was found to have low EC50 values (0.96 mg/mL), the concentrations of the SSE that exhibit 50% reduction in DPPH, and highest scavenging of ABTS^{· +} radicals (1.73 mg TEAC/g) and highest reduce TPRZ-Fe (III) complex to TPTZ-Fe (II) (8.03 mg Fe(II)/g), thus indicating high antioxidant activities. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of the SSE showed positive correlated to the scavenging activity of DPPH and ABTS^{· +} radicals and the ferric reducing ability (FRAP assay).     

Beneficial effect of the unsaponifiable matter from rice bran on oxidative stress in vitro compared with α‐tocopherol

Unsaponifiable matter (UM) was prepared from rice bran using n‐hexane extraction followed by removal of its fatty acid methyl ester with supercritical CO₂ under heat‐stable conditions. The UM was made up of 1% of vitamin E isomers, 28% of γ‐oryzanol and 71% of uncharacterized compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activities of the UM, using α‐tocopherol (α‐T) as a positive control, by measuring the Fe³⁺‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) free‐radical‐scavenging property and lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. In addition, the effects of the UM on the tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (t‐BOOH)‐induced cytotoxicity in cultured rat hepatocytes were also investigated. In FRAP assay and DPPH^? free‐radical‐scavenging assay, the results were expressed g^?1α‐T or g^?1 UM. The amount of UM used in lipid peroxidation assay and cytotoxicity assay was the amount required to have equal amounts of total vitamin E isomers in the sample and the control α‐T. The UM, as well as α‐T, exhibited significant antioxidant activities in FRAP, radical‐scavenging and membrane‐lipid oxidation. The FRAP value for total vitamin E isomers in the UM (TVEIUM) was 9.1 times higher than that for α‐T. In terms of their capacities to perform radical‐scavenging and lipid peroxidation, both TVEIUM and α‐T showed similar antioxidant activities. In experiments using cultured rat hepatocytes, the t‐BOOH‐induced lactate dehydrogenase release was significantly inhibited by the addition of 63.5 and 160 µg ml^?1 of TVEIUM treatments (84 and 89%, respectively), and that of 63.5 and 160 µg ml^?1 of α‐T treatment (88 and 93%, respectively). The antioxidant function against oxidative stress of the UM prepared from rice bran may extend its use to being a potential dietary supplement. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry