{
  "abstract": "The present study investigated the antioxidant potential of three terpenes p -cymene, thymol, and β-ionone—through their ferric reducing power (FRAP). Individually, p -cymene demonstrated the strongest activity with an EC ₅₀ of 123.03 ± 2.05 µg/mL, followed by thymol (EC ₅₀ = 153.16 ± 2.84 µg/mL), whereas β-ionone exhibited the lowest ferric reducing capacity (EC ₅₀ = 931.46 ± 5.37 µg/mL), revealing significant variation in their antioxidant efficacy. To assess combinatorial effects, twelve randomized mixture trials were performed, each representing the mean of three independent repetitions, yielding FRAP EC ₅₀ values ranging from 79.76 to 931.46 µg/mL. Statistical analysis identified significant contributions from linear terms (β ₁ , β ₂ , β ₃ ), binary interactions (β ₁₂ , β ₁₃ ), and the ternary interaction term (β ₁₂₃ ), indicating that both individual and combined effects shaped the overall antioxidant response. Analysis of 2D and 3D mixture plots suggested that an EC ₅₀ around 79.70 µg/mL could be obtained by combining all three terpenes. Furthermore, desirability analysis predicted an optimal FRAP EC ₅₀ of 58.23 µg/mL, achieved with a mixture comprising 17% β-ionone, 42% p -cymene, and 41% thymol, with a global desirability of 99.9%. These findings demonstrate that strategic blending of structurally related terpenes can substantially enhance ferric reducing capacity, providing a robust framework for the development of potent natural antioxidant formulations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Ahmed Qasem"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/720w7m4mc30g0.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-77654-8",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "720w7m4mc30g0",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77654-8",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2704|Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223562169",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77654-8_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-25",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/720w7m4mc30g0.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:34Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-77654-8",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77654-8"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2704|Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Enhancing ferric-reducing antioxidant activity through terpene mixture optimization",
  "title_text": "Enhancing ferric-reducing antioxidant activity through terpene mixture optimization",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:34Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/720w7m4mc30g0",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}