Antioxidant activity of 3-dehydroshikimic acid in liposomes, emulsions, and bulk oil.

The antioxidant activity of 3-dehydroshikimic acid (DHS), an intermediate in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, was evaluated in three assay systems: bulk oil (lard), liposomes, and a 10% corn oil-in-water emulsion. Upon initiation of peroxidation in the liposome or emulsion systems, DHS exhibited weak antioxidant activity. In contrast, DHS displayed strong antioxidant activity in lard, suppressing peroxidation with activity comparable to that of tert-butylhydroquinone, propyl gallate, and gallic acid and superior to that of alpha-tocopherol. Two major DHS oxidation products, gallic acid and protocatechuic acid, were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectral analysis of lard extracts; both compounds are effective antioxidants in the bulk oil system. In the liposome system, DHS remained intact throughout the assay period. A small amount of gallic acid was observed in extracts of the emulsion; however, protocatechuic acid was not detected. A mechanism to explain the different activities of DHS in the three lipid systems is proposed.