A short chain polypeptide having antioxidant activity is provided. The short chain polypeptide has 2 to 4 amino acids bonded to form a polypeptide chain having an amine-terminal end and a carboxyl terminal end wherein a net charge of the short chain polypeptide is positive, the amino terminal amino acid is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of arginine, lysine and histidine, the polypeptide chain following from the amino terminus comprises a hydrophobic or neutral amino acid, and the polypeptide chain is free of an amino acid having a negatively charged side-chain group. A method to prepare a composition having antioxidant activity and a composition having antioxidant activity are also provided.
