Direct Superoxide Anion Scavenging Effect of Lycopene from Blakeslea trispora by EPR Spectroscopy

Carotenoids demonstrated multiple antioxidant activities, including the ability to scavenge single oxygen and reactive oxygen radicals. Superoxide anion/radials, produced by exogenous chemical or physical stimuli and endogenous metabolic processes, can be another source of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo. The main components of carotenoids, lycopene, from Blakeslea trispora were separated by HPLC. In the current study, we reported the direct scavenging of superoxide anion by the carotenoids from Blakeslea trispora evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, employing the spin-trap DMPO.