Direct survey of redox active compounds in sesame oil by cyclic voltammetry—studies on sesaminol, sesamol and hydroxyhydroquinone in nujol

Abstract The redox behaviour of compounds in sesame oil was investigated directly by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 1 M sulfuric acid. The oil was used as a pasting material for a carbon paste electrode (CPE). CV curves measured on the CPE showed the redox behaviour of redox active compounds to be more concentrated than ca. 0.01%. The characteristic CV curve of sesame oil has been attributed to the reactions of sesaminol and sesamol. Electrochemical oxidation of sesaminol and sesamol in 1 M sulfuric acid took place at the methylenedioxy and para -hydroxy groups, affording substituted and unsubstituted hydroxybenzoquinones. Mechanisms for the electrochemical reactions are proposed on the basis of the behaviour of model compounds.