Antioxidant capacities of individual and combined phenolics in a model system

In order to understand how interaction of individual phenolics contributes to the total antioxidant capacity, we quantitatively measured antioxidant capacity of various phenolics in different combinations, using ABTS radical-scavenging ability in a model system. Selected phenolics included in this study were those often found in fruits and vegetables, such as catechin, chlorogenic acid, cyanidin, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-rutinoside, epicatechin, peonidin, peonidin 3-glucoside, quercetin, quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 3-galactoside and quercetin 3-rutinoside. Individual phenolics showed their characteristic antioxidant capacities, while the mixtures, with two or three phenolics combined revealed that the summation of antioxidant capacities of individual phenolics led to total antioxidant capacity. Therefore, it can be concluded that there was no synergistic effect among the phenolics studied. Only an additive effect of antioxidant capacity was observed.