Comparison of the contents of the main biochemical compounds and the antioxidant activity of some Spanish olive oils as determined by four different radical scavenging tests

The aim of this study was to compare the contents of the main biochemical compounds and the antioxidant capacity of five Spanish olive oils by four different antioxidant tests and to find out the most valuable oil for disease preventing diets. Fatty acids, sterols and individual antioxidant compounds in Arbequina, Hojiblanca, Extra Virgin, Picual and Lampante Spanish olive oils were determined. Antioxidant activities were done as well using different radical scavenging activities: total radical-trapping antioxidative potential by ABAP (TRAP-ABAP), radical scavenging activity by DPPH (RSA-DPPH), antioxidant assay by β-carotene-linoleate model system (AA-β-carotene) and total antioxidant status by ABTS (TAA-ABTS). The highest content of all studied antioxidant compounds (353; 329; 4.6 and 2.7 mg/kg for tocopherols, tocotrienols, polyphenols and o-diphenols, respectively) was found in Extra Virgin oil. Also the highest antioxidant capacity was observed in Extra Virgin oil (668nmol/ml; 29.4%; 40.4% and 2.64 mmolTE/kg for TRAP-ABAP, RSA-DPPH, AA- β-carotene and TAA-ABTS, respectively). The correlation between total phenols and antioxidant capacities measured by four methods was very high, but the highest for the β-carotene (R² = 0.9958). In conclusion, the best method for determination of the antioxidant capacity of olive oils is the β-carotene test. Extra Virgin olive oil has high organoleptic properties and the highest antioxidant activity. The above-mentioned makes this oil a preferable choice for diseases preventing diets. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.