Antioxidant activity of natural vitamin E extracted from soybean sludge as assessed by chemiluminescence

The antioxidant activity of natural vitamin E (VE) towards superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and lipid free radicals was investigated using a chemiluminescence technique. VE was extracted from soybean sludge, where it was present at a concentration of 600 g kg−1 as determined by HPLC. Superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals and lipid free radicals were generated by the pyrogallol autoxidation system, the Fenton reaction system and the AAPH‐induced γ‐linolenic acid peroxidation system respectively. VE rapidly scavenged hydroxyl radicals and lipid free radicals. The efficient concentration (EC50) of VE against both was 0.1 mg ml−1. A reaction time of 6 s was adequate to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and a reaction time of 24 s was enough to scavenge lipid free radicals. However, VE scavenged superoxide anions at a relatively low rate, and the extent of scavenging was less than 20% even after 3 min at a VE concentration of 4.3 mg ml−1. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry