Suppressing Effect of Flavonoid Compounds on Lipids Photooxidation of Sheep Red Blood Cells and Oleic Acid Photooxidation

Photosensitizers and pigments in raw meat such as porphyrins, riboflavin, and myoglobin after incorporation with light beam prompt the generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) from triplet oxygen (³O₂) and cause oxidative rancidity of meat products. In this study, the results of photooxidation reactions of sheep erythrocyte (red blood cell) model as a model rich in hemoglobin and phospholipids bilayer, and oleic acid model were obtained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, TBARS assay, and iodometric titration. In both models, the rate of lipid photooxidation in the presence of hydroalcoholic extracts of Turmeric (<i>Curcuma longa</i> L.) and Cumin (<i>Cuminum cyminum</i> L.) as natural antioxidants, Butyl hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a synthetic antioxidant, and sodium azide (NaN₃) as a well-known ¹O₂ scavenger were decreased in the order of NaN₃ > Turmeric > Cumin > BHT. It was proven that during the photooxidation process, there is a direct association between the amount of flavonoid compounds and ¹O₂ scavenging.