29B-6

Antioxidant and anti-microbial activity of polyphenols derived from phytic acid

A. S. MOLENGRAFT1, J. W. Frost2, E. T. Ryser1, and G. M. Strasburg1. (1) Dept. of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Michigan State Univ., 336 G. Malcolm Trout FSHN Bldg., East Lansing, MI 48824-1224, (2) Dept. of Chemistry, Michigan State Univ., 528-A Chemistry Bldg., East Lansing, MI 48824-1322

There is rising interest in use of environmentally friendly methods as alternatives to petroleum-based production of food ingredients. Phytic acid obtained from steeping liquors of grain processing was used as starting material for a simple two- or three-step synthesis of two polyphenolic compounds, 1,2,3,4,-tetrahydroxybenzene (THB) and 2,3,4,5,-tetrahydroxybenzoic acid (THBA), respectively. These compounds bear striking structural similarity to other polyphenolic compounds that are effective inhibitors of lipid oxidation and of microbial growth.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-microbial activities of THB and THBA.

Antioxidant activity of THB and THBA was compared with structurally related compounds using three assays: 1) Peroxide value determination using the Schaal oven test with lard, containing 0.01% or 0.005% antioxidant, as the lipid substrate; 2) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in cooked ground beef containing 0.01% antioxidant; and 3) Spectrofluorometric analysis of Fe2+-induced autoxidation of liposomes.  Anti-microbial activity was defined by the minimum concentration of compound needed to inhibit bacterial growth in culture media inoculated with 109 cfu of pathogen.

In the Schaal oven test, the order of antioxidant activity was THB > THBA > gallic acid > alpha tocopherol > protocatechuic acid.  Similarly, in the meat system, THB and THBA had the strongest activities. In the liposome assay, gallic acid showed the strongest activity followed by tert-butylhydroquinone > butylated hydroxytoluene  > propyl gallate > protocatechuic acid > THBA > THB ≈ alpha-tocopherol.  THB demonstrated strong anti-microbial activity. Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was inhibited at a THB concentration of 600 µg·mL-1; Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium were inhibited at 800 µg·mL-1 THB. THBA showed no anti-microbial activity.

Our results suggest that, depending on their toxicity profiles, these derivatives of a low-value by-product of grain processing could be highly effective, inexpensive compounds for enhancement of food safety and quality.

Session 29B, Food Chemistry: Lipids, antioxidants and emulsifiers
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM, Sunday PM

2003 IFT Annual Meeting - Chicago,