SCAVENGING ACTIVITY OF BETA-CATECHIN ON REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES GENERATED BY PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF RIBOFLAVIN

''beta CATECHIN'', a preparation containing green tea extract, ascorbi c acid, sunflower seed extract, dunaliella carotene and natural vitami n E, has been designed as a model ''universal antioxidant'' that offer s protection via its scavenging action on a wide range of free radical s, both water-soluble and fat-soluble. Reactive oxygen species like si nglet oxygen, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, are often generated in biological systems during photosensitized oxidation reactions. We rep ort on the simultaneous effect of ''beta CATECHIN'' on active oxygen s pecies generated during the photosensitized oxidation of riboflavin us ing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone (TMPD) as a ''spin-trapping'' age nt. The intensities of the resulting stable nitroxide radical adduct, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone-1-oxyl (TEMPONE), were detected by el ectron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Results show simultaneous, n onspecific and complete scavenging action of reactive oxygen species g enerated in our in vitro model system by ''beta CATECHIN''. It is ther efore suggested that ''beta CATECHIN'' could offer protection against free radical insult and in preventing cancer and other diseases that a rt: mediated by reactive oxygen species.