ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITY OF VOLATILE HETEROCYCLIC-COMPOUNDS

Several volatile heterocyclic compounds formed in Maillard reactions w ere evaluated for antioxidative activity. Antioxidative activity was m easured by the oxidation of heptanal to heptanoic acid or by malonalde hyde formation. Alkylthiophenes, 2-thiophenethiol, 2-methyl-3-furanthi ol, and furfuryl mercaptan inhibited heptanal oxidation for up to 30 d ays. The degree of unsaturation in the heterocyclic ring, as well as t he substituent type, had variable effects on the antioxidative capacit y of these compounds. The tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidation o f tocopherol-stripped corn oil, as measured by malondialdehyde formati on, was also inhibited in the presence of these heterocyclic compounds . Reactions of the above compounds with tert-butyl hydroperoxide and m -chloroperoxybenzoic acid resulted in the formation and identification of various oxidized products. The products of these reactions suggest ed that these heterocyclic Maillard reaction products had antioxidativ e activity.