No effect of esterification with fatty acid on antioxidant activity of lutein

Antioxidant activities of lutein and lutein myristate esters were evaluated by using both the methyl linoleate hydroperoxide method and colorimetry of the quenching activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The antioxidant activities of free lutein (FL), lutein monomyristate ester (LM) and lutein dimyristate ester (LD) were not significantly different in both methods. No synergetic effects among FL, LM and LD were obtained. These results suggest that esterification of OH groups with fatty acids might not affect antioxidant activity of lutein. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.