Date of Award
12-2003
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. John Geiser
Second Advisor
Dr. Bruce Bejcek
Third Advisor
Dr. Haeri Roh-Schmidt
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Hydroxyl free radicals are biologically important molecules in that they attack proteins, lipids and DNA to obtain an electron to fill their outer valence shell. The consequences of such attacks include protein degradation, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, which leads to many diseases and cancer. While there are many antioxidant assays available to predict anti-radical properties of compounds against different free radicals, the assessment of hydroxyl radical damage has been challenging. This is due to the extremely high reaction rate of hydroxyl radicals. The present study defines an in vitro assay that quantitatively detects antioxidant efficacy against hydroxyl free radicals, by measuring the production of ethylene created from the reaction of KMBA with hydroxyl radical formation. The method uses gas chromatography to detect the presence of ethylene using headspace aliquots from the sample vial. The assay will be used to analyze plant extracts for their use in nutritional supplements and personal care products, in order to market them as having antioxidant properties. Green tea extract was used to develop the method because it contains polyphenols, which are extremely efficient free radical scavengers. Results indicate that this assay can measure the amount of hydroxyl free radical generated and the antioxidant effects of hydroxyl free radical scavengers.
Recommended Citation
Hacker, Cherie, "Development of a Method for Determining Antioxidant Efficacy against Hydroxyl Radicals" (2003). Masters Theses. 4611.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4611