Abstract

The effectiveness of certain antioxidant substances in the protection of red cells from oxidation and degradation with respect to their window times of survival have been analyzed using UV-Visible spectrophotometry. Antioxidant substances evaluated included; vitamin A, vitamin D, mixture of vitamins A and D, various species of Kolanut, Garcinia kola, Prosopis africana beans, beans shell extracts and eugenol, an oil extract from the clove plant. In the presence of an oxidizing agent; potassium ferricyanide, lysis of red cell membrane, oxidation of exposed hemoglobin and methemoglobin formation were observed within 12 h. When the red blood cells were exposed to antioxidants, red cells were found to survive oxidation above 12 h. The window times of survival of the red cells in the presence of the antioxidants were found to be as follows: eugenol ≥ 32 h, G. kola ≥ 32 h,Cola acuminata (white) ≥ 32 h, C. acuminata (red) ≤ 20 h, C. acuminata (pink) 24 h, Cola nitida (white) 20 h, C. nitida (red) 26 h, C. nitida (pink) ≥ 32 h, Prosopis africana beans (shell extract) 30 h, P. africana (beans extract) 24 h, vitamins A and D (mixture) 30 h, vitamin D 24 h and vitamin A ≥ 32 h. A synergistic relationship between vitamins A and D was established, eugenol was the most effective while C. nitida (white) showed the least potency and therefore effectiveness.

Key words: Antioxidant potency, evaluation, red cell, survival time.