Effects of Metal Chelator, Sodium Azide, and Superoxide Dismutase on the Oxidative Stability in Riboflavin-Photosensitized Oil-in-Water Emulsion Systems

The effects of riboflavin photosensitization on the oxidative stability of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were determined using lipid hydroperoxides and headspace volatile analyses. The influences of a metal chelator, sodium azide, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) on oxidation pathways were tested to gain a better understanding of the role of transition metals, singlet oxygen, and superoxide anion, respectively. Emulsions with riboflavin and visible light irradiation had significantly higher lipid hydroperoxides and volatiles (p < 0.05) as compared to samples without light irradiation or riboflavin. The addition of ethylenediammetetraacetic acid (EDTA) decreased the formation of lipid hydroperoxides, hexanal, 2-heptenal, and 1-octen-3-ol in a concentration-dependent manner. Sodium azide, a singlet oxygen physical quencher, only inhibited the formation of 2-heptenal and 1-octen-3-ol. Overall, photosensitized riboflavin participated in both type I and type II pathways in O/W emulsions, and these pathways enhance the prooxidant activity of metals through their ability to produce lipid hydroperoxides and superoxide anion.