An Overview of Natural Plant Antioxidants: Analysis and Evaluation

Abstract

Antioxidative compounds play a vital role to inhibit the oxidation of oxidizable products and influences the body defense system against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are harmful byproducts engendered during normal aerobic cellular respiration. ROS are specialized class of highly reactive molecules that originates during oxygen metabolism, whereas extensive evidences indicate the involvement of ROS in the development of degenerative diseases in humans. Despite the fact that synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are threat to human's health; they are widely employed as chemical preservatives to avert potential deterioration of food products. Several toxicological findings reveal that natural antioxidants are capable of providing protection against free radical-related diseases, cancer and other cardiovascular infections. In cognizance with these facts, natural antioxidant attracts a great deal of research interest; therefore, this review provides a comprehensive and an up-to-date overview of the three most essential natural plant antioxidants; their antioxidative properties, methods of analysis and evaluation. These Polyphenols comprise: Phenolic acid, an essential polyphenol that are broadly dispersed in plants to exert positive influence on oxidative stress; Flavonoid, an ubiquitous antioxidant that functions in free radical scavenging, metal ion chelation and enzymes inhibition to suppress the synthesis of free radicals; and Tannic acid, a water soluble anti-nutrient that acts to precipitate alkaloids & proteins, reduce mineral & vitamin utilization and restrict the activities of digestive enzymes. In conclusion, a variety of plant species were characterized to indicate in vitro antioxidative properties.

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“…It has been reported that anti-oxidant activities of flavonoids can also help in establishing the anti-inflammatory activity 25 . Several antinecrotic, digestive, neuroprotective hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory, drugs have recently been shown to have anti-oxidant and/or radical scavenging mechanism as part of their activity 29,30 .…”

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“…Antioxidants provide protection to the living being from the hazardous effect of reactive oxygen species. There are many medicine which are now a day having radical scavenging mechanism for the treatment of many diseases 15,16 . Antioxidants are important in the prevention of UV radiation.…”

Nontargeted Metabolomics as a Screening Tool for Estimating Bioactive Metabolites in the Extracts of 50 Indigenous Korean Plants

“…Antioxidants can be natural or synthetic, but due to their toxic and carcinogenic effects, synthetic antioxidants are being replaced with natural antioxidants [ 19 ]. The increase in dietary antioxidant intakes may help to support the limiting antioxidant concentrate and also promote the normal functioning of physiological systems [ 20 ]. The potential of the extracts from indigenous Korean plants to scavenge these free radicals and modulate inflammatory reactions has been demonstrated [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”