Antioxidant Activity of Supramolecular Water-Soluble Fullerenes Evaluated by β-Carotene Bleaching Assay

Abstract

We investigated the antioxidant activity of supramolecular water-soluble fullerenes, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-entrapped C₆₀, and γ-cyclodextrin (CD)-bicapped C₆₀, based on comparable β-carotene bleaching assay. Antioxidant activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by three different methods, (i) autoxidation of linoleic acid, (ii) hydrogen peroxide promoter, and (iii) photoirradiation, was evaluated as percent of inhibition relative to a control experiment in view of the bleaching rate constant (k_obs) as well as the persistent absorbancy of β-carotene. Water-soluble fullerenes exhibit significant inhibitory effects on the oxidative discoloration of β-carotene in any system.