Antioxidant activity of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. in model and food systems

Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. is a sweet-smelling, self-growing plant which is traditionally consumed in Iran as a garnish. Little, however, is known about its potential antioxidant activity. In this study, the antioxidant activity of the methanotic extract of the plant was evaluated using beta-carotene bleaching assay, reducing power, thiocyanate, accelerated oxidation of sunflower oil, and DPPH radical-scavenging. In DPPH and reducing power models the antioxidant activity of the plant extract was generally found to be less effective than that of ascorbic acid, but it was comparable to and/or greater than the activities of alpha-tocopherol and BHT. Although the antioxidant activity of BHT in P-carotene bleaching assay was greater than that of the sample, the difference was not significant (p < 0.01). Ascorbic acid showed low activity in this assay. The activity of the plant extract in the thiocyanate model system was lower than that of BHT but greater than that of alpha-tocopherol. The methatiolic extract inhibited the oxidation of sunflower oil at 60 3 degrees C more efficiently than did BHT. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.