Fused Heterocyclic Antioxidants: Antioxidative Activities of Hydrocoumarins in a Homogeneous Solution

We compared the antioxidative activities of seven hydrocoumarins with those of alpha-tocopherol for the oxidation of tetralin and linoleic acid in a homogeneous solution. Hydrocoumarins exhibited a higher induction period than that of alpha-Toc in both systems. However, the rate of oxygen absorption during the induction period for alpha-Toc was slower than that of the hydrocoumarins in both systems. In addition, 6,7-dihydroxy-4,4-dimethylhydrocoumarin showed less cytotoxicity toward human fibroblasts than did 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol.