title: Crocin bleaching assay step by step: observations and suggestions for an alternative validated protocol.
abstract: Examination of the crocin bleaching assay performance and in-house validation were focused on probe and test compound characteristics, conditions for peroxyl radical generation, reaction monitoring, and expression of results. HPLC and spectrometric examination showed that any authentic commercial saffron (origin, grade) can be used for probe preparation given that (a) interferences, such as tocopherols, are removed, (b) working solution concentration is adequately adjusted, and (c) stock probe solution changes during storage are not neglected. As suggested by log P values, calculated for a great number of radical scavengers (AHs), any AH more polar than Trolox (common reference compound) can be tested in the aqueous environment of the assay. AH activities order obeyed principles of structure-activity relationships. The assay was robust toward preheating of the azo-initiator (2,2'-azobis(2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride). Reaction monitoring through periodic UV-vis spectra recording was very informative. An alternative expression of results as "percent inhibition of crocin bleaching value", % Inh = [(DeltaA(0) - DeltaA)/DeltaA(0))] x 100, is proposed for [AH]/[crocin] = 1, instead of the so far used k(rel) values. The above findings also lead to analysis cost and time reduction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stella A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ordoudi
authors.forename: Maria Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Tsimidou
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002839:Chromans; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D010545:Peroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D002839:Chromans; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010545:Peroxides; C049375:perhydroxyl radical; D002338:Carotenoids; C029036:crocin; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid