Abstract
The effect of a binary mixture of antioxidants on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was investigated using 11 antioxidants as food additives or 24 natural antioxidants. Among 55 combinations of binary mixtures, including 11 antioxidants, BHA, BHT, catechin, quercetin, sesamol, ferulic acid, gallic acid, morin, ellagic acid, α-tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of 36 combinations were significantly greater than the expected activity of individual antioxidants, resulting in synergistic effects. Also, one combination showed antagonistic effect. Among 276 combinations of 24 natural antioxidants, including 4 benzoic acids, 3 cinnamic acids, 12 flavonoids, 2 vitamins, and 3 diterpenes, 74 showed synergistic effects and 61 showed antagonistic effects. However, the ratios of the actual to expected activity of many synergistic and antagonistic combinations were about 1.1-1.2 and 0.8-0.9, respectively.