THE ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF TOBACCO

Abstract Mammalian cells have evolved a complex network of enzymatic and non-enzymatic molecules that protect them from the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These endogenous antioxidant agents are supplemented by dietary antioxidants, obtained mainly from plants. Although many studies have assessed the antioxidant properties of fruits and vegetables, much less is known about the antioxidant characteristics of another commonly ingested plant product, tobacco. The antioxidant properties of 16 commercially available tobacco products were determined using an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The concentrations of polyphenols in these products also were determined. The tobacco products tested had a range of antioxidant activity from modest to high. A significant linear relationship was observed between the overall antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content. The high antioxidant activity in smokeless tobacco may partially explain the low cancer risk associated with long-...