Effect of Sugars and Sugar Analogs on Autoxidation of Methyl Linoleate and Safflower Oil

Abstract

The antioxidative and prooxidative activities of sugars and sugar analogs were investigated on the autoxidation of methyl linoleate and safflower oil. Autoxidation of methyl linoleate was conducted in either the dry state or aqueous emulsion state. Although all sugars and sugar analogs inhibited the autoxidation of methyl linoleate in the dry system, the reducing sugars accelerated oxidation in the aqueous emulsion system. When glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone and glycerol were added in the oxidation system, glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone with water accelerated the formation and decomposition of methyl linoleate monohydroperoxide. On the other hand, glycerol inhibited the formation and decomposition of hydroperoxide. These results indicate that the carbonyl group of sugars accelerates lipid peroxidation and the hydroxy group of sugars and sugar analogs inhibits the oxidation. The effect of sugars in the safflower oil-sugar-cellulose oxidation system was also examined. Sugars at low humidity inhibited the autoxidation of safflower oil, but reducing sugars at high humidity accelerated the oxidation. © 1982, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.