Antioxidative activity of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid

The (-)-(1S, 3S) isomer of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-car boxylic acid was synthesised by Pictet-Spengler condensation of tryptophan with acetaldehyde. It was evaluated for its antioxidative activity in the l inoleic acid autooxidation system by the ferric thiocynate method. Butylate d hydroxy anisole (BHA), butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and alpha-tocophe rol were used as the reference standards. The compound showed moderate anti oxidative activity and also synergistic effect with the reference standards . The synergistic effect was in the increasing order of BHT, alpha-tocopher ol and BHA. The synergistic effect was higher at higher concentrations stud ied.