Quality, antioxidant activity and composition of Indian black teas.

A comparative study was undertaken to determine the difference in quality, antioxidant activity, and mineral content of northern and southern Indian tea varieties. The results showed that the antioxidant activity, theaflavin and thearubigin content, color particle size and total soluble solids influence the tea leaf and tea dust. Assam leaf showed higher values for all the physico-chemical properties followed by Darjeeling leaf.

Simple HPLC method for resolution of curcuminoids with antioxidant potential.

Development of methodology for qualitative analysis and quantitative separation of individual curcuminoids in curcumin removed turmeric oleoresin (CRTO) and study of antioxidant activity of individual curcuminoids have been achieved in the present study. A simple HPLC protocol was outlined for optimal resolution of curcuminoids (I), (II), and (III) on an Exil-NH(2) column using isocratic elution with a mixture of isopropanol and water. CRTO is shown to be good source for the compounds II and III, as they are in an enriched form.

Studies on the antioxidant activities of natural vanilla extract and its constituent compounds through in vitro models.

Vanilla extract was prepared by extraction of cured vanilla beans with aqueous ethyl alcohol (60%). The extract was profiled by HPLC, wherein major compounds, viz., vanillic acid, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin, could be identified and separated.