The current understanding of the complex role of ROS in the organism and pathological sequelae of oxidative stress points to the necessity of comprehensive studies of antioxidant reactivities and interactions with cellular constituents. Studies of antioxidants performed within the COST B-35 action has concerned the search for new natural antioxidants, synthesis of new antioxidant compounds and evaluation and elucidation of mechanisms of action of both natural and synthetic antioxidants. Representative studies presented in the review concern antioxidant properties of various kinds of tea, the search for new antioxidants of herbal origin, modification of tocopherols and their use in combination with selenium and properties of two promising groups of synthetic antioxidants: derivatives of stobadine and derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridine.

Although the term 'antioxidant' is used very frequently, there are problems with the definition of antioxidants and estimation of antioxidant activity. The distinction between antioxidant and antiradical activities is not always obvious. This minireview discusses critically the principles, advantages and limitations of the most frequently used methods of estimation of antiradical and antioxidant activities.

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