In order to isolate and clarify the antioxygenic substances from the browning reaction products, the antioxidant activity of various amino acids and their browning reaction products were measured when they were reacted with xylose. Among nonpolar amino acids Met and Trp appeared to have stronger antioxidant effect than others. Most of polar and basic amino acids, however, did not have antioxidant activity. Ser and Cys showed a rather slight prooxidant effect. The browning reaction products of Trp and His had a higher level of antioxidant activity than that they were reacted as free amino acids. But the browning product of Met did not show the antioxidant activity. When all amino acids were divided on their polar characteristics, the higher optical density of the browning reaction products showed, the stronger antioxidant activity revealed.