抄録
The cathodic solution strongly inhibited the oxidations of squalene, vitamin A palmitate and β-carotene in an aqueous phase, whereas super pure water and NaCl solution had no effect on their oxidations. The strong antioxidant action on β-carotene was also found in the NaOH solution. The cathodic solution and the NaOH solution just after preparation had a scavenging effect on DPPH radical. This result indicates that the radical scavenging effect of these solutions may be in part responsible for their antioxidant action. On the other hand, the radical scavenging effect of both solutions was completely lost by incubation at 37°C in open to air for 7 days, but these incubated solutions still showed a strong antioxidant action. It is therefore suggested that there are other reasons for their antioxidant action than radical scavenging effect. The present study also showed that the NaHCO3 solution had a strong antioxidant action on β-carotene in the aqueous phase, although this solution had no radical scavenging effect. Since the main molecular species present in the cathodic solution is NaOH and NaOH can change to NaHCO3 by absorption of CO2 in the air, these alkaline molecules such as NaOH and NaHCO3 would be responsible for the antioxidant action of the cathodic solution and of the NaOH solution before and after their incubation.
