Estimation of antioxidant capacity against peroxynitrite and hypochlorite with fluorescein

Peroxynitrite and hypochlorite are oxidants relevant in many pathological situations. We propose a simple spectrofluorometric assay to determine antioxidant capacity against hypochlorite and peroxynitrite based on protection against fluorescein bleaching. The assay can be performed on a microplate and requires minute amounts of material. Standard antioxidants show different reactivities for both oxidants. Antioxidant capacity of fruit bodies of edible mushrooms, tea, coffee and wine estimated as exemplary biological material point to considerable differences in the scavenging capacity of various biological material against hypochlorite, peroxynitrite and peroxyl radicals.