Antioxidant Properties of Phenolics in Castanea sativa Mill. Extracts

Jelena Živković¹*, Zoran Zeković², Ibrahim Mujić³, Vesna Tumbas², Dragoljub Cvetković² and Ivan Spasojević<sup>4

1</sup>Department of Pharmacy, Medical Faculty, University of Niš, Bulevar Zorana Đinđića 81, RS-18000 Niš, Serbia
²Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, RS-21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
³Collegium Fluminense Polytechnic of Rijeka, Trpimirova 2/V, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia
⁴Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1a, RS-11030 Belgrade, Serbia

Article history:
Received September 26, 2008
Accepted May 5, 2009

Key words:
Castanea sativa Mill., antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, lipid peroxidation, refractory response

Summary:
Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, antioxidant properties of chestnut extracts have been investigated as a source of phenolic compounds. In addition to their high antioxidant activities against hydroxyl and organic free (DPPH) radicals, phenolics showed to be potent protectors of membranes from lipid peroxidation. To the best of our knowledge, the ability of an antioxidant to overcome body’s refractory response towards antioxidant supplementation has been examined for the first time. The water soluble extracts obtained from leaves, catkins, and outer brown peel of Castanea sativa Mill. showed high antioxidant activity in scavenging ^·OH and DPPH radical. All extracts, except for sweet chestnut catkins, showed the ability to protect liposomes from peroxidation. Phenolic compounds, as active antioxidants, have the ability to enter and protect cell membranes from lipid peroxidation, thus overcoming the body’s refractory response to the antioxidant supplements in the diet. It is shown that phenolics are easily accessible natural antioxidants that can be used as food supplements or for the treatment of pathophysiological conditions related to oxidative stress.

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