Sugarcane molasses fractions and peroxyl radical damage in lab tests
What it found
In lab tests, fractions taken from sugarcane molasses soaked up peroxyl radicals and helped protect DNA from oxidative damage.
Ten phenolic compounds were identified in the fractions.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Radical scavenging
The 7 fractions of sugarcane molasses had oxygen radical absorbance capacity values from 4399 to 6,266 μmol TE/g.
Cellular antioxidant activity
In cell-based tests, the amount needed to reach half the maximum antioxidant effect ranged from 3.7 to 5.9 μg/ml.
DNA protection
Fractions F6 and F7 protected against oxidative DNA damage caused by peroxyl radicals at an effective concentration of 100 μg/ml.
Phenolic compounds found
Ten phenolic compounds were identified in the fractions, including schaftoside, isoschaftoside, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde.
What the authors conclude
“Sugarcane molasses is a rich source of antioxidant materials with peroxyl radical scavenging effects.”
Also in their conclusions
- They report that sugarcane molasses is a rich source of antioxidant materials with peroxyl radical scavenging effects.
- They found that fractions of sugarcane molasses, especially F6 and F7, could protect against oxidative DNA damage caused by peroxyl radicals.
How it was done
The researchers split sugarcane molasses into 7 methanol-based fractions and tested each one for its ability to mop up peroxyl radicals and protect DNA from oxidative damage.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab tests on fractions of molasses, not studies in people.
- They can't show what eating molasses does in the human body.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Kagoshima University, Japan
The paper
- Title
- Antioxidant activity of sugarcane molasses against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced peroxyl radicals
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Asikin Y, Takahashi M, Mishima T, Mizu M, Takara K, Wada K (2013). Antioxidant activity of sugarcane molasses against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced peroxyl radicals. Food chemistry. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.03.045PubMed 23768381DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error