Oxygen Radical Antioxidant Capacity (Orac) Values of Herbal Teas Obtained Employing Different Methodologies Can Provide Complementary Data

Abstract

The antioxidant capacity of six herbal tea infusions (Mentha piperita, Erythroxylum coca, Rosa moschata, Tilia spp, Plantago major, and Aloysia citriodora) was measured by ORAC type methodologies employing fluorescein (ORAC-FL) and pyrogallol red (ORAC-PGR) as target compounds. Probe consumption profiles were widely different, with neat induction times when FL is employed as target. Relative ORAC values of different herbal infusions depend upon the test molecule employed. Relative ORAC-PGR values follow the order:Rosa moschata > Mentha piperita > Tilia spp > Plantago major > Aloysia citriodora >Erythroxylum coca, while ORAC-Fl values order is: Mentha piperita > Aloysia citriodora > Erythroxylum coca >Rosa moschata >Tilia spp > Plantago major. These differences are related to the different relevance of the parameters (amount of phenols and reactivity) that determine ORAC values for different target molecules. In particular, ORAC-FL values are associated with the polyphenolic levels present in the sample and, hence, correlate with the Folin index of the infusion. On the other hand, ORAC-PGR values are determined by the quantity and average quality of the antioxidants present in the tested sample. From these results, it is proposed that the ratio ORAC-PGR/ORAC-FL could be employed as a rough measure of the antioxidant average quality of the phenols present in the tested infusion.

Use of the Orac-Pyrogallol Red/Orac-Fluorescein Ratio to Assess the Quality of Antioxidants in Chilean Wines

“…From this assumption, we have estimated the antioxidant capacity of different complex mixtures such as tea and herbal infusions. 20 The ORAC-PGR/ORAC-FL ratio of tea infusions was near 5 times higher than that of herbal infusions. 20 These results were ascribed to differences in the quality of the antioxidants present in tea and herbal infusions.…”

“…20 A high value of the ratio would imply that a high proportion of the antioxidants contained in a particular sample are able to efficiently protect PGR. From this assumption, we have estimated the antioxidant capacity of different complex mixtures such as tea and herbal infusions.…”

“…Taking into account the characteristics of ORAC-FL and ORAC-PGR assays, we have recently proposed that both methods could be considered as rendering complementary indexes. 20 Thus, the ORAC-PGR/ORAC-FL ratio would reflect the quality of the antioxidants present in a particular sample. 20 We have reported that the ORAC-PGR/ORAC-FL ratio of green tea is almost 7.5 times higher than that of Haploppapus baylahuen, implying that green tea contains antioxidants of better quality than the compounds contained in the Hapoplappus baylahuen infusion.…”

“…20 Thus, the ORAC-PGR/ORAC-FL ratio would reflect the quality of the antioxidants present in a particular sample. 20 We have reported that the ORAC-PGR/ORAC-FL ratio of green tea is almost 7.5 times higher than that of Haploppapus baylahuen, implying that green tea contains antioxidants of better quality than the compounds contained in the Hapoplappus baylahuen infusion. 20 A similar approach has been used by Niki and co-workers, using PGR and Pyranine as target molecules to estimate the antioxidant capacity of beverages and foods.…”

Laçasse Catalyzed-Synthesis of 4,4'-Biphenyldiamine From P-Chloroaniline. Evaluation of Antifungal and Antioxidant Activities

“…To evaluate the antioxidant activity of the substrate and purified product, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) by the pyrogallol red (PGR) method by used 25 . The oxidation od PGR caused by 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), monitored at 540 nm, was evaluated.…”