Introduction:
Soybean extract is a valuable food supplement used for the prevention of cancer and other purposes. The role of free radicals in carcinogenesis has been proven. Studies have also confirmed the effect of storage conditions on the formation of free radicals in natural medicinal products. The study presents an attempt to optimize the storage conditions of soybean extract to prevent the formation of free radicals.

Aim of the study:
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of temperature and UV radiation on the formation of free radicals in soybean extract during storage.

Material and methods:
Samples of soybean extract were heated to temperatures of 30, 40 and 50°C. Subsequent samples were exposed to UV radiation (wavelengths 315–400 nm) for 30 and 60 minutes. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy was used to analyse the amplitude and linewidth of the EPR signal and to calculate the concentration of free radicals in the samples.

Results:
At a room temperature of 25°C and in the absence of light, no EPR signal was recorded for the tested samples. Heating and exposure to UV light caused the formation of free radicals in the samples. The highest concentration of free radicals was found in the sample exposed to UV light for 60 minutes, while the lowest was in the sample heated to 30°C.

Conclusions:
The use of EPR spectroscopy enabled the identification of optimal storage conditions for soybean extract, i.e. 25°C and darkness.