Antioxidant activity of phenolic meroditerpenoids from marine algae

Abstract

The overall 1O 2 quenching rate constants k Q for three meroditerpenoids from Mediterranean marine algae of the genus Cystoseira were measured using 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene 1,4-endoperoxide as a thermal source of 1O 2 ( 1Δ g). The most active of the compounds tested had a k Q value which is comparable with that of α-tocopherol. These metabolites also act as inhibitors of methyl linoleate peroxidation, while their O .− 2 quenching activity is rather low, similar to α-tocopherol.