Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Review on antioxidants and evaluation procedures

  • Review
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Antioxidants are the substances that are capable of counteracting the damaging effects of the physiological process of oxidation occur in animal tissues. These may be nutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins) in our body that assist in chemical reactions. They are believed to play a role in preventing the development of chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cataracts etc. The present review article emphasizes on the various aspects of oxidants and antioxidants viz. definition, types, causes, mechanism, functions, adverse effects along with various in vivo and in vitro models of evaluation of antioxidant activity of new molecule, compounds or any plant or plant part. This review is one of its kinds which will be of great importance for researchers working in this area in search of antioxidant moieties and their biological evaluation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Halliwell B. Free Radicals, Antioxidants, and Human Disease: Curiosity, Cause, or Consequence? Lancet 1994;344:721–724

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mathew S, Abraham TE. Studies on the antioxidant activities of cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) bark extracts, through various in vitro models. Food Chem 2006;94:520–528.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hilton JW. Antioxidants, function, types and necessity of inclusion in pet foods. Can Vet J 1989;30:682–684.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Kumar S, Sharma S, Vasudeva N. GC-MS analysis and screening of antidiabetic, antioxidant and hypolipidemic potential of Cinnamomum tamala oil in streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Cardiovas Diabet 2012;11:95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Podsedek A. Natural antioxidants and antioxidant capacity of brassica vegetables. LWT-Food Sci Technol 2007;40:1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ames BN, Shigenaga MK, and Hagen TM. Oxidants, antioxidants, and the degenerative diseases of aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1993;90:7915–7922.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Gupta V, Sharma SK. Plants as natural antioxidants. Natural Product Radiance 2006;5:326–334.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Huang D, Ou B, Prior RL. The chemistry behind antioxidant capacity assays. J Agric Food Chem 2005;53:1841–1856.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Omari BE, Fleck I, Aranda X, Abadía A, Cano A, Arnao MB. Total antioxidant activity in Quercus ilex resprouts after fire. Plant Physiology Biochemistry 2003;41:41–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Hennekens CH, Buring JE, Manson JE, Stampfer M, Rosner B, Cook NR, et al.: Lack of effect of long-term supplementation with beta carotene on the incidence of malignant neoplasms and cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med 1996;334:1145–1149.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kumar S, Sharma S, Suman, Jitpal. In vivo Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of Piper longum fruit. J Pharm Res 2011:4:1–4.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Pokorny J. Are natural antioxidants better and safer than synthetic antioxidants? Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 2007;109:629–642.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar S, Sharma S, Vasudeva N, Ranga V. In vivo antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potentials of ethanolic extract from Tecomella undulata. Diabe Metab Syndrome 2012;4:33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Neeraj, Pramod J, Singh S, Singh J. Antioxidants to the rescue of cell under invasion of free radicals–a review. Intern J Basic Applied Med Sci 2013;3:190–200.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Joseph K. Natural antioxidants in grapes & wines. J Agri food chem 1994:42:64–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Niehaus WG, Samuelson. Formation of malondialdehyde from phospholipid arachidonate during microsomal lipid peroxidation. Eur J Biochem 1968;6:126–130.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Witt EH, Reznick AZ, Viguie CA, Starke-Reed P, Packer L. Exercise, oxidative damage and effects of antioxidant manipulation (review). J Nutr 1992;122:766–73.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang D, Wang LJ, Zhu FX, Zhu JY, Chen XD, Zou L, et al. In vitro and in vivo studies on the antioxidant activities of the aqueous extracts of Douchi (a traditional Chinese salt-fermented soybean food). Food Chem 2008;107:1421–1428.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ashok KJ. Imbalance in antioxidant defence and human diseases, multiple approach of natural antioxidant therapy. Current Science 2001;34:1179–1186.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Howell JC. Food antioxidants, international perspectives welcome and introductory remarks. Food Chem Toxicol 1986;24:997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lingnert H, Vallentin K, Eriksson CE. Measurement of antioxidative effect in model system. J Food Proc Pres 1979;3:87–103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ou B, Hampsch-Woodill M, Flanagan J, Deemer EK, Prior RL, Huang D. Novel fluorometric assay for hydroxyl radical prevention capacity using fluorescein as the probe. J Agric Food Chem 2002;50:2772–2777.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dinis TCP, Madeira VMC, Almeida LM. Action of phenolic derivatives (acetoaminophen, salicylate and 5-aminosalicylate) as inhibitors of membrane lipid peroxidation and as peroxy radical scavengers. Arch Biochem Biophy 1994;315:161–169.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kanner J. Natural antioxidants in grapes and wines. J Agric Food Chem 1994;42:64–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Vuotto ML, Basile A, Moscatiello V, Sole PD, Cobianchi RS, Laghi E, et al. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Feijoa sellowiana fruit. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2000;13:197–201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Benzie IF, Strain JJ. The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of "antioxidant power" the FRAP assay. Anal Biochem 1996;239:70–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ellman GL. Tissue sulphydryl groups. Arch Biochem Biophys 1959;82:70–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Niehaus WG, Samuelson B. Formation of malondialdehyde from phospholipids arachidonate during microsomal lipid peroxidation. Eur J Biochem 1968;6:126–130.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sinha KA. Colorimetric assay of catalase. Anal Biochem 1972;47:389–394.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Sinha AK. Colorimetric assay of Catalase. Anal Biochem 1972;42:389–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Hughes S, Samman S. The effect of zinc supplementation in humans on plasma lipids, antioxidant status and thrombogenesis. J Am Coll Nutr 2006;25:285–291.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Percival M. Antioxidants. Clin Nutrition Insight 1998;31:1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Prior RL, Wu X, Schaich K. Standardized methods for the determination of antioxidant capacity and phenolics in foods and dietary supplements. J Agric Food Chem 2005;53:4290–4302.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Liu CZ, Murch SJ, EL-Demerdash M, Saxena PK. Artemisia judaica L. micropropagation and antioxidant activity. J Biotechnol 2004;110:63–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Soler-Rivas C, Espin JC, Wichers HJ. An easy and fast test to compare total free radical scavenger capacity of foodstuffs. Phytochem Anal 2000:11:330–338.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Cavalcantia FR, Resende MLV, Santos Lima JPM, Gomes Silveira JA, Abreu Oliveira JT. Activities of antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic responses in tomato pretreated by plant activators and inoculated by Xanthomonas vesicatoria. Physiol Mol Plant Path 2006;68:198–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. McCune LM, Johns T. Antioxidant activity in medicinal plants associated with the symptoms of diabetes mellitus used by the indigenous peoples of the North American boreal forest. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;82:197–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. McDonald S, Prenzler PD, Antolovich M, Robards K. Phenolic content and antioxidant activity of olive extracts. Food Chem 2001;73:73–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Robak J, Gryglewski RJ. Flavonoids are scavengers of superoxide anions. Biochem Pharmacol 1988;37:837–841.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Lee IM, Cook NR, Manson JE. Beta-carotene supplementation and incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease, Women's Health Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999;91:2102–2106.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Green LC, Wagner DA, Glogowski J, Skipper PL, Wishnok JS, Tannenbaum SR. Analysis of nitrate, nitrite and 15N nitrate in biological fluids. Anal Biochem 1982;126:131–138.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Ho KY, Huang JS, Tsai CC, Lin TC, Lin CC. Antioxidant activity of tannin component from Vaccinium vitisidaea. Pharm Pharmcol 1999;51:1075–1078.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Naika GH, Priyadarsinia KI, Satavb JG, Banavalikarc MM, Sohonic DP, Biyanic MK, et al. Comparative antioxidant activity of individual herbal components used in Ayurvedic medicine. Phytochem 2003;63:97–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Loo AY, Jain K, Darah I. Antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of the pyroligneous acid from a mangrove plant, Rhizophora apiculata. Food Chem 2007;104:300–307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Ruch RJ, Cheng SJ, Klaunig JE. Prevention of cytotoxicity and inhibition of intercellular communication by antioxidant catechins isolated from Chinese green tea. Carcinogen 1989;10:1003–1008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Bandoniene D, Pukalskas A, Venskutonis PR, Gruzdiene D. Preliminary screening of antioxidant activity of some plant extracts in rapeseed oil. Food Res Int 2000;33:785–791.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Chiaki S, Naomi O. Antioxidative polyphenols isolated from Theobroma cocoa. J Agric Food Chem 1998;46:454–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Okuonghae PO, Aberare LO, Mukoro N, Osazuwa F, Dirisu JO, Ogbuzulu J, et al. Total antioxidant status of zinc, manganese, copper and selenium levels in rats exposed to premium motor spirit fumes. Am J Med Sci 2011;3:234–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Athukorala Y, Kim KN, Jeon YJ. Antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of an enzymatic hydrolysate from brown alga Ecklonia cava. Food Chem Toxicol 2006;44:1065–1074.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Dimitrios B. Sources of natural phenolic antioxidants. Trends in Food Sci Technol 2006:17:505–512.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Kardosova, E, Machova. Antioxidant activity of medicinal plant polysaccharides. Fitoterapia 2006;77:367–373.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. David GB, Erik EA, Rohini S, Alfins. Antioxidant enzyme expression and ROS damage in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer. Cancer 2000;89:124–134.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Simonetti P, Pietta P, Testolin G. Polyphenol content and total antioxidant potential selected Italian wines. J Agric Food Chem 1997;45:1152–1155.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Vinson JA, Hontz BA. Phenol antioxidant index, comparative antioxidant effectiveness of red and white wines. J Agri Food Chem 1995;43:401–403.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Kamboj J, Sharma S, Kumar S. In vivo anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant potential of psoralea corylifolia seeds in Streptozotocin induced type-2 diabetic rats. J health Sci 2011;57:1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. McCord JM, Fridovich I. Superoxide dismutase, an enzymic function for erythrocuprein (hemocuprein). J Biol Chem 1969;244:6049–6055.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Choi HR. Peroxynitrite scavenging activity of herb extracts. Phytother Res 2002;16:364–367.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Scartezzini P, Speroni E. Review on some plants of Indian traditional medicine with antioxidant activity. J Ethnopharm 2000;71:23–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Varadacharyulu NC, Bondada Andallu, Vinay Kumar AV. Oxidative stress in streptozocin-diabetic rats: amelioration by Mulberry (Morus Indica L.) leaves. Chin J Integr Med 2012;1–6.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, 125001, India

    Suresh Kumar, Sunil Sharma & Neeru Vasudeva

  2. Laureate Institute of Pharmacy, Kathog, Distt., Kangra, 177101, India

    Suresh Kumar

Authors
  1. Suresh Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sunil Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Neeru Vasudeva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suresh Kumar.

Additional information

Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Authors Contribution Suresh Kumar collected the detailed study materials and write in the form of Review. Sunil Sharma and Neeru Vasudeva drafted and revise the manuscript. Neeru Vasudeva checked and corrected the English language. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, S., Sharma, S. & Vasudeva, N. Review on antioxidants and evaluation procedures. Chin. J. Integr. Med. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-017-2414-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-017-2414-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation