Synergistic Effect of Citric Acid on Antioxidant Property of Red Pepper

The antioxidant activity of ground red pepper, ethyl alcohol extracts of ground red pepper peel and alcohol extracts plus organic acid was studied by using edible soybean oil as a substrate. All the substrates were stored in a dark place at respectively. The results of the study were as follow: 1. Ground red pepper, black pepper and cassia exhibited slight antioxidant activity and there was no significant difference in antioxidant activity among them. 2. Although both ground red pepper peel and red pepper seed showed antioxidant activity, ground red pepper peel exhibited greater antioxidant activity than ground red pepper peel did. 3. Ethyl alcohol extracts of red pepper peel showed strong antioxidant activity, but the residue did not show the antioxidant activity. 4. The antioxidant activity of the ethyl alcohol extracts of red pepper peel increased in direct proportion to the concentration of the extracts. 5. In connection with the synergistic effect of organic acid to the ethyl alcohol extracts of red pepper peel, citric acid showed a very strong synergistic effect on the antioxidant activity of red pepper, while ascorbic acid showed a weak effect. On the other hand, phosphoric acid showed an accelerating effect on the oxidation of oils. 6. The maximum antioxidant activity of the ethyl alcohol of ground red pepper peel was observed at the citric acid concentration of 0.04%, when tested at various concentration of citric acid.