ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF LIGNIN FROM GREEN TEA WASTE: ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF LIGNIN

The antioxidant capacity of lignin from used green tea leaves was evaluated by measuring its effects on the autoxidation of linoleic acid. Autoxidation of linoleic acid was reduced by 50% in the presence of tea leaf lignin. This effect was weaker than that of alpha-tocopherol and t-butylhydroxyanisole. However, lignin enhanced the antioxidant effects of alpha-tocopherol, epigallocatechin gallate or acetone extracts of used tea leaves, with the antioxidant activity of lignin + acetone extracts of used tea leaves being nearly equivalent to that of alpha-tocopherol and t-butylhydroxyanisole.