Genesis and development of DPPH method of antioxidant assay.

α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free
radical scavenging method offers the first approach for
evaluating the antioxidant potential of a compound, an
extract or other biological sources. This is the simplest
method, wherein the prospective compound or extract is
mixed with DPPH solution and absorbance is recorded after
a defined period. However, with the advancement and
sophistication in instrumental techniques, the method has
undergone various modifications to suit the requirements,
even though the basic approach remains same in all of
them. This article presents a critical review on various
developments to the DPPH method.