Antioxidant activity of natural sterols and organic acids

This paper deals with antioxidant activity of sterols and natural organic acids not covered on previous papers. The paper «Antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds» covered phenolic acids; the second one «Antioxidant activity of vitamin C, D and provitamin A», ascorbic acid, and the third «Antioxidant activity of natural nitrogenous compounds», aminoacids. The acids studied here included citric, malic, lactic, fumarle, tartaric, kojic (5-hydroxy-2-[hydroxymethyl-γ-pyrone], phytic (inositol-hexaphosphoric acid) and furoic acids. The reaction mechanisms, either as inhibitors of the chain reaction of prooxidant radicals or by sequestration of free radicals was discussed. Finally, a list of recent patents of these compounds and their derivatives as antioxidants or synergists was included.