Electrochemical determination of antioxidant capacity of fruit tea infusions

Cyclic voltammograms (CV) taken to 800 mV at a scan rate 100 mV s⁻¹ were used to quantify electrochemical properties of antioxidants present in 10 fruit tea infusions as well as to deduce antioxidant capacity from the Q₆₀₀ parameter (charge passed to 600 mV). A pronounced anodic current peak observed at 440 mV in all analysed fruit teas indicated that ortho-dihydroxy-phenol and gallate groups are the major contributors to the antioxidant capacity of investigated teas. Antioxidant composite index (ACI) was determined for each tea employing antioxidant capacity values from previous spectrophotometric determinations as well as the Q₆₀₀ parameter derived from CV. A ranking of the most potent teas was obtained: the fruit tea containing a large portion of rose hip fruit exhibited the highest ACI and a CV with the most pronounced anodic current peak at 440 mV pointing to the presence of ortho-dihydroxy-phenol and gallate group containing compounds. Strong positive correlation was established between antioxidant capacities deduced from CVs with those previously determined using established spectrophotometric techniques (FRAP, ABTS and DPPH assays).