ABSTRACT
Antioxidant activities of polyphenolic compounds extracted (PPEs) from ripe fruits of oil palms are investigated by studying their in vitro effects on human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Four oil palm species ( Elaeis guineensis ) are issued from the National Centre of Agronomic Research of Côte d'Ivoire, of which two are parental varieties (HP1 and HP2), while the other two are crossing varieties (HP3 and HP4). The main identified compounds were rutin (HP3 and HP4) and caffeic and chlorogenic (5-caffeoyl quinic) acids (HP1, HP3, and HP4). The highest total phenolic content was found for HP4, while it was significantly lower for HP2. Antioxidative effects were monitored by Cu(2+)- or 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH)-induced generation of conjugated dienes (lag time and oxidation rate). The highest PPE specific antioxidant activity (SAA) values were obtained with crossing varieties (HP3 and HP4) in the copper-oxidation assay. In the AAPH-oxidation assay, SAA values were comparable for all four varieties. PPEs were effective at preventing LDL-vitamin E depletion in vitro. They could exert direct beneficial antioxidant effects on vitamin E and other antioxidants contained in food and beverages in vivo, within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These data could also be of particular importance for a healthier nutrition or the management of chronic diseases by a polyphenol-rich diet.
