Abstract
The effect of the antioxidant activity of β-carotene and related carotenoids on the free radical-oxidation of methyl linoleate in solution was examined by measuring the production of methyl linoleate hydroperoxides. Canthaxanthin and astaxanthin which possess oxo groups at the 4 and 4′-positions in the β-inonone ring retarded the hydroperoxide formation more efficiently than β-carotene and zeaxanthin which possess no oxo groups. The rates of autocatalytic oxidation of canthaxanthin and astaxanthin were also slower than those of β-carotene and zeaxanthin. These results suggest that canthaxanthin and astaxanthin are more effective antioxidants than β-carotene by stabilizing the trapped radicals.
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Abbreviations
- AMVN:
-
2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile)
- HPLC:
-
high performance liquid chromatography
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Terao, J. Antioxidant activity of β-carotene-related carotenoids in solution. Lipids 24, 659–661 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535085
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535085