Avaliação da atividade antioxidante do β-caroteno extraído do pimentão vermelho (Capsicum annum L.) em cremes pelo método DPPH.

Abstract

The carotenoid pigments present in red pepper Capsicum annum L. present a great antioxidant potential and represent a promising perspective for the prevention of photoaging. The objective of this study was to extract, isolate and purify the β-carotene present in red chili for the preparation of a cream and subsequently evaluate the potential of this antioxidant on the free radical DPPH. The results indicated that after extraction, isolation and purification, the statement containing the β-carotene showed an initial mass of 60 μg that after evaporation of the solvent at room temperature resulted in 20 mg of β-carotene. The placebo cream (F1) containing only lanette wax base had no effect on the DPPH radical. The standard β-carotene and the standard cream containing β-carotene (F2) at the concentration of 0,3 mM showed the same behavior antioxidant at a concentration of 120 μg / ml -1, reducing the effect of 30,43% radically DPPH. This concentration was limiting the results, because in high standard β-carotene concentrations observed an increase in absorbance in the analyzed wavelength (516 nm). But the cream containing β-carotene extracted from red pepper (F3) at a concentration of 0,3 mM showed ability to eliminate DPPH radical in 0,82% no increase in absorbance at 516 nm due to its lower degree of purity when compared the standard β-carotene. Vitamin C was used as the reference product and immediately reacted with DPPH radical, with greater capacity to eliminate the DPPH radical than the others. The results of this research extol the importance of natural products show that the same may also present indicative of antioxidant activity besides having as main advantage, the reduced use of synthetic substances cause of skin and allergic reactions, however, it is necessary that further studies be conducted so that these products can enter the consumer market.