Antioxidant and antiradical activity of ferulates

Abstract

Antioxidant and antiradical activities of ferulates (i.e., ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, coniferyl aldehyde, and methyl ferulate) were investigated using a β-carotene-linoleate model system and a DPPH radical scavenging assay, respectively. Compounds so tested exhibited antioxidant and antiradical properties to varying degrees. Methyl ferulate showed the strongest antioxidant activity, whereas the parent phenolic acid was the most active ferulate to scavenge the DPPH radical (DPPH•). Isoferulic acid at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 nmol/assay did not impart an antiradical efficacy; this may be attributed to the location of the hydroxyl group in the meta position on the aromatic ring.