Antioxidative Properties and Flavonoids Contents of Matured Citrus Peel Extracts

We assessed various antioxidant activities, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) radical scavenging effect, along with antioxidant capacity, of soybean oil with added Citrus species peel extracts (CPEs). These extract oils showed higher radical scavenging effects than grape fruit seed extract, the natural antioxidant agent, did. When CPEs were added to soybean oil, they showed peroxide value (POV) and acid value (AV) increasing inhibition effects. Furthermore, none of the CPEs showed any cytotoxicity over the tested concentration range of 0.01-100 ppm. The major flavonoid contents of Citrus junos, as determined by HPLC, were naringin ($7.5\;{\mu}g/mg$) and neohesperidin ($7.5\;{\mu}g/mg$), and those of Citrus unshiu were narirutin ($3.13\;{\mu}g/mg$) and hesperidin ($1.97\;{\mu}g/mg$). However, the aglycone form was not found. This study showed that CPEs might be a potent source of natural antioxidant, without any toxic effects.