The antioxidant activity of the extracts from
Gevuina avellana hulls was evaluated and comparedwith that of BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), using the
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-carotene bleaching assay, the accelerated oxidation of crude soybean oil, and the 2,2-diphenyl-
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-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Solvents of different polarity were used to obtainthe extracts. Both the extraction yield and the antioxidant activity were strongly dependent on thesolvent. The ethanol and diethyl ether soluble fractions were the most active with the
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-caroteneassay. Ethanol and methanol extracts were the most active in hydrogen radical scavenging activity.Water and methanol inhibited more efficiently the oxidation of soybean oil at 70 and 80
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C,respectively. As a general trend, increased antioxidant activity was observed for increased extractconcentration. Except the acetone extracts, all were stable after 6 months storage at 4
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C. Theethanol solubles from
G. avellana hulls present antioxidant activity similar to that of syntheticantioxidants and to other reported residual agroindustrial materials.Keywords:
Gevuina avellana; hulls; natural antioxidants; polyphenolics; solvent polarity