ANTIOXIDATIVE EFFECTS OF POLYAMINES

The antioxidative effects of spermine, spermidine and putrescine were determined by measurement of primary and secondary oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids, using gas and liquid chromatography as well as spectrophotometric recordings. It was demonstrated that polyamines inhibit the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, alpha-tocopherol and carotenoid pigments. Both linear and nonlinear dose/response relationships have been observed. The efficiency of a given polyamine was correlated with the number of amine groups in the molecule. Spermine was, thus, more efficient than spermidine, which in turn had a higher efficiency than putrescine. The relative antioxidative effect was as follows: spermine (100.0), spermidine (61.0), putrescine (23.0), ethoxyquin (27.6), ascorbyl palmitate (18.3), octyl gallate (7.9), tert butylhydroquinone (6.3), butylated hydroxyanisole (3.6) and alpha-tocopherol (3.4).