Selective detection of hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity based on electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection using tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III) by flow injection analysis.

We describe a new method for detecting hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity based on tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III) [Ru(bpy)(3)(3+)] chemiluminescence and flow injection analysis. Hydroxyl radicals were generated by the Fenton reaction. The scavenging capacity of the six antioxidants tested decreased in the following order: edaravone>L-tryptophan>gallic acid>Trolox>N-acetyl-L-cysteine>ascorbic acid. The proposed method allowed a sample throughput of about 80 samples/h. The six antioxidants were found to inhibit chemiluminescence intensity of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+). The proposed method is a rapid, selective, and accurate procedure for the study of hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity by Ru(bpy)(3)(3+) chemiluminescence.