ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF CAROTENES AND XANTHOPHYLLS

The purpose of this study was to assess the relative antioxidant activ ities of a range of carotenes and xanthophylls through the extent of t heir abilities to scavenge the ABTS(.+) radical cation. The results sh ow that the relative abilities of the carotenoids to scavenge the ARTS (.+) radical cation are influenced by the presence of functional group s with increasing polarities, such as carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, in the terminal rings, as well as by the number of conjugated double bon ds.