Natural antioxidants: Their electrochemistry and determination in plant material and biological fluids
Abstract
Natural antioxidants are reported to have high potential as health boosters. Consumption of such compounds has dramatically increased in recent years although there is very little to substantiate their benefit. Interactions of drugs with dietary supplements, nutraceuticals or botanicals, as they are variously called, are only beginning to be understood. In order to better define the role of antioxidants it is desirable to have improved analytical methods for plant derived materials as they are processed, stored and consumed. The electrochemistry of representative antioxidants including: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and curcumin is studied in this work. Validated methods for the determination of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid in coffee were developed to follow the content of these compounds during the roasting process. Other methods were designed to follow the dynamics of these compounds in fully functional mammalian biological systems, particularly in rodents. Validated LCUVEC and LCMS methods for the determination of curcuminoids, caffeic and chlorogenic acids both in food and in biological fluids permits study of pharmacokinetics. Determination of some primary and secondary metabolites was also achieved. Higher quality pharmacokinetics data was obtained by using an automated pharmacology unit (Culex), thus reducing animal stress during the study.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Kissinger, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Analytical chemistry
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.