This study aimed to determine the antioxidant capacity of cashew apple pulp and raw concentrated extract. The antioxidant potential of aqueous (EAq) and alcoholic (EAlc) extracts and of free phenolic acids (FPA) and esterified (soluble -SPA and insoluble -IPA) fractions of the by-products of the cashew apple clone CCP-76 were evaluated in a β-carotene-linoleate system by the free radical [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•)] scavenging assay and the Rancimat test. In addition, the total phenolic content and phenolic acid profile were determined using Folin-Ciocateau reagent and gas chromatography, respectively. The EAq and the FPA fraction of the by-products showed the highest phenolic content. The phenolic acid fractions generally displayed stronger antioxidant activity than the extracts tested with the β-carotene-linoleate and DPPH systems. However, in the Rancimat test, the extracts showed higher antioxidant activity than the fractions and BHT. Nine phenolic acids (gallic, ferulic, caffeic, protocatechuic, quinic, cinnamic, gentisic, p-coumaric and salicylic acids), which give the fractions their antioxidant potential, were identified and quantified (both free and esterified forms). These results characterized the in vitro antioxidant capacity of the pulp and raw concentrated extract of the cashew apple clone CCP-76.

Phenolic compounds are found in seaweed species together with other substances presenting antioxidant activity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the free phenolic acids (FPA) fraction from the seaweed Halimeda monile, and its activity to protect the expression of hepatic enzymes in rats, under experimental CCl4 injury. The antioxidant activity was measured by the DPPH method. The FPA fraction (80 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered during 20 consecutive days to rats. The peroxidation was performed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The SOD and CAT enzymatic expressions were measured by RT/PCR. The histology technique was used to evaluate liver injuries. The expression of both, CAT and SOD genes, was more preserved by FPA. Only partial injury could be observed by histology in the liver of rats receiving FPA as compared with the control group; and CCl4 administration induced 60% more peroxidation as compared with the rats receiving FPA. These data suggest that FPA could modulate the antioxidant enzymes and oxidative status in the liver through protection against adverse effects induced by chemical agents

En la actualidad existe un marcado interés por la búsqueda de antioxidantes de fuentes naturales, incluidas las algas marinas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la composición química y propiedades antioxidantes del alga INTRODUCCIÓNEn los últimos años se ha incrementado el interés por la búsqueda de antioxidantes naturales, generalmente constituidos por mezclas de compuestos con una elevada diversidad molecular y funcionalidad biológica (Aruoma et al., 2003). En su mayoría estas entidades son aceptadas como no tóxicas, aunque algunos de estos compuestos

BACKGROUND: There has been growing interest in sodium copper chlorophyllin (Cu-Chl) as a food colourant and supplement owing to its beneficial biological activities. Studies have revealed that this green pigment inhibits experimental carcinogenesis and interacts with proteins and genotoxic agents. Health-related activities have also been associated with the prevention of lipid peroxidation. However, intestinal absorption of this pigment has been considered insignificant, raising questions of whether eventual biological properties are related to pre-or post-absorptive actions. In this study, intestinal absorption of Cu-Chl and its appearance in serum and organs were estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis in rat feeding experiments. The effect of ingested Cu-Chl on lipid peroxidation was analysed by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and antioxidant enzyme activities in hepatic and brain tissues of oxidative stress-induced rats.

No abstract