Folin-Ciocalteu reagent

The Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR) or Folin's phenol reagent or Folin-Denis reagent is a mixture of phosphomolybdate and phosphotungstate used for the colorimetric assay of phenolic antioxidants and polyphenolic antioxidants. [Singleton VL, Orthofer R, Lamuela-Raventos RM. Analysis of total phenols and other oxidation substrates and antioxidants by means of Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Meth Enzymol 1999; 299: 152-178.] It works by measuring the amount of the substance being tested needed to inhibit the oxidation of the reagent. [cite journal |author=Vinson J, Zubik L, Bose P, Samman N, Proch J |title=Dried fruits: excellent "in vitro" and "in vivo" antioxidants |url=http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/24/1/44 |journal=J Am Coll Nutr |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=44–50 |year=2005 |pmid=15670984]

However, this reagent does not only measure total phenols and will react with any reducing substance. The reagent therefore measures the total reducing capacity of a sample, not just the level of phenolic compounds. This reagent forms part of the Lowry protein assay and will also react with some nitrogen-containing compounds such as hydroxylamine and guanidine. [cite journal |author=Ikawa M, Schaper TD, Dollard CA, Sasner JJ |title=Utilization of Folin-Ciocalteu phenol reagent for the detection of certain nitrogen compounds |journal=J. Agric. Food Chem. |volume=51 |issue=7 |pages=1811–5 |year=2003 |pmid=12643635 |doi=10.1021/jf021099r]

This reagent should not be confused with Folin's reagent, which is used to detect amines and sulfur-containing compounds.

ee also

* Otto Folin
* Vintilă Ciocâlteu
* Willey Glover Denis

References

External links

* [http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/fluka/product%20information%20sheet/47641_data_sheet_64kb.pdf Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent] Fluka data sheet.