ANTIOXIDANTS

DEFENCE SYSTEM IN
OUR BODY
ANTIOXIDANTS
DEFINITION : An antioxidant is a molecule capable
of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules.
Oxidation reactions can form free radicals and these
start chain reactions that damage cells .
Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by
removing free radical intermediates and inhibit other
oxidation reactions
What is a free radical ?
 Free radical is an atom that has at list one unpaired electron.
 Free radical are released are during normal metabolism, as well
as by pollution, smoking, radiation & stress ,air pollution,
Alcohol intake , Toxins, High blood sugar levels etc.
 Free radicals are also a by product of converting food into
energy.
 Under normal circumstance the body keep them in check.
Mechanism of antioxidant working.
TYPES OF ANTIOXIDANTS
These are three types
I) Enzymatic and Non enzymatic antioxidants:
They are present in both Extracellular and Intracellular
Environment.
Enzymatic Antioxidants -
S.No Antioxidant Location Function
A Glutathione peroxidase Mitochondria & Cytosol Removal of H2O2
and Organic Hydro
peroxide
B Catalase Mitochondria & Cytosol Removal of H2O2
Non Enzymatic Antioxidants
S. Antioxidant Location Function
No
A Carotenoids Lipid soluble Removal of ROS
antioxidants in
membrane tissue
B Bilirubin Product of heme Extracellular
metabolism in antioxidants
blood
C Glutathione Non-protein thiol in Cellular oxidant
cell defense
D α- Lipoic acid Endogenous thiol Serves as substitute
for Glutathione,
recycling vit-C
E Viamin C Aqueous Free scavenger, recycle
phase of cell vit- E

F Vitamin E Cell Chain breaking

Antioxidant

G Uric acid Product of Scavenging of OH radical

Purine
Metabolism
II) Natural and Dietary Sources
a) Natural sources :
Chlorophyll derivatives , Carotenoids , Essential oils ,
Phytosterols, Alkaloids, Phenolics, Nitrogen
containing compounds.
b)Dietary antioxidants :
Camosol ,Rosmanol , Camosoic acid,
III) Based on Defense Mechanism :
a) Preventive Antioxidants :
Peroxidase, Catalase , Lactoferrin, Carotenoids
Etc….
b)Radical scavenging Antioxidants :
Vitamin C and Carotenoids.
c) Repair and DENOVO antioxidants
d) Enzyme inhibitor Antioxidants
Functions of Antioxidants :
Antioxidants such as vit- C & vit- E boost our
immune system.
Certain phytochemicals have beneficial effect on
heart diseases.
Antioxidants lower the level of LDL- cholesterol,
thus preventing plaque deposition in the blood
vessels.
It is beneficial in cancer prevention.
Antioxidants neutralize substances that can damage
the genetic material by oxidation.
 Vitamins as Antioxidants
CAROTENES :
 A carotene is one of four Antioxidants that are vital for our
general health and wellbeing.
There are four carotene compounds :
α-Carotene, β-Carotene,
γ-Carotene, δ-Carotene.
 α-Carotene & β-Carotene are the powerful antioxidants
 β-Carotene is an antiageing micronutrient and play a
significant role in reducing the effects of certain illnesses
such as heart disease, decreased immune function,
cataracts, cancer.
 Much like beta, alpha-carotene is found in foods like:
Carrots ,Sweet potatoes ,Squash ,Brussel sprouts,Kiwi,
Spinach, Broccoli, Kale, Mang0, Cantaloupe
ASCORBIC ACID(VIT-C) :
 It is a hydrophilic antioxidant.
 Neutralization of H2O2
 Maintain healthy collagen in skin,
Repair damaged tissue, healthy teeth
and bones, boost immune system
 As a free radical fighter helps ward off wrinkles and many
illnesses linked to oxidation, cataracts, arthritis, heart
disease and cancer
 Vitamin C functions as an anti-inflammatory, and helps the
body fight inflammatory diseases, including fibromyalgia,
and chronic fatigue, angina, bronchitis, bruises, canker
sores, constipation, diabetes, vitamin C helps the body
absorb iron, it is also useful in treating iron deficiency and
anemia.
 Sources : Broccoli, Strawberries, Kale, Citrus fruits like
oranges, limes, and lemons, Tomatoes ,Bell peppers
Cabbage, Watermelon, potatoes and spinach.
TOCOPHEROLS ( vit- E) :
 It is a lipid soluble and among them α- tocopherol is
biologically active
 It is an antioxidant present in all cellular membranes and
protects against lipid peroxidation and normal ageing
process.
 It directly acts on oxyradicals and serve important chain
breaking antioxidant.
 Vitamin E is used as treatment for many chronic diseases
including Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis and prostate
enlargement.
 Sources : Peanut oil, cotton seed oil, sunflower oil, whole
grains, green leafy vegetables.
Chain breaking anti-oxidants:
They can inhibit propagative phase. They include
superoxide dismutase, uric acid and vitamin E.
Alpha tocopherol (T-OH) (vitamin E) would intercept the
peroxyl free radical and inactivate it before a PUFA can be
attacked.
T-OH + ROO' ® TO' + ROOH
The tocoperoxyl radical can react with another peroxyl
radical getting converted to inactive products.
TO' + ROO' ® inactive products
Vitamin E (Alpha tocopherol) acts as the most effective
naturally occurring chain breaking anti-oxidant in tissues.
Only traces of tocopherol is required to protect
considerable amounts of polyunsaturated fat (1
tocopherol molecule per 1000 lipid molecules).
While acting as anti-oxidant, alpha tocopherol is
consumed. Hence it has to be replenished by daily
dietary supply.
 ΑLPHA LIPOIC ACID :
 It is universal anti oxidant
 It is also called Thioctic acid
 It helps to converts glucose to energy, detoxifies the body,
fights inflammation in the skin and helps stabilizes blood
sugar
 It plays a key role in recycling other important
antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, α tocopherol and
Glutathione.
 It penetrates through tissues composed of fat and those
made of water such as Nervous tissue and Heart
 Sources : Spinach , Liver , Brewer’s yeast
Minerals as Antioxidants
SELENIUM :
 It is an essential trace element and is proved to be antioxidant
 It works with Vit –E in fighting free radicals
 It is required for the functioning of an important enzyme
Glutathione peroxidase
 Selenium protects the body from free radical damage in two ways
a) It is incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins (acts as
antioxidant)
b) It helps in the body manufacture its own natural antioxidant
Glutathione
 It reduce colorectal, lung and prostrate cancer
 Sources : sea foods, meats ,organ meats, whole grains.
Hormones as Antioxidants
MELATONIN :
 It is a powerful antioxidant that can easily cross cell
membranes and the Blood brain barrier
 It does not undergo redox cycling
 Melatonin cannot be reduced its former state as it forms
stable compounds after reacting with free radicals
 It has been referred as a terminal /Suicidal antioxidant
Metabolic Antioxidant
GLUTATHIONE :
 It is the mother of all Antioxidants
 It is a Tripeptide made of Cysteine, Glutamic acid and
Glycine
 It is a Hydrophillic antioxidant found in every cell in
Human body
 It is the most important antioxidant due to the fact that it is
directly found in cells and breakdown the free radicals with
in the cells, hence it is often called “Mother of all
Antioxidants”.
 Sources: Garlic, Broccoli, Onions, Dairy products, Oats,
Chicken, Watermelon.
URIC ACID :
 It is the most abundant and uncomplicated antioxidant found
in the body
 It has the highest concentration of any oxidant found in blood
cells and is hydrophilic and it accounts for more than half of all
antioxidant capacity
 It is a marker of oxidative stress and is a powerful scavenger of
singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals.
 Elevated levels of uric acid in diseases associated with oxidative
stress such as stroke & atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s disease.
 Sources: sweetbreads, liver, beef, meat extracts etc..
 Ceruloplasmin :
Inhibits Iron and copper dependent lipid peroxidation.
 Transferrin :
Binds to iron and prevents iron catalysed free radical
formation.
 Albumin :
Can scavenge free radicals formed on its surface
 Bilirubin :
Protects the albumin bound free fatty acid from peroxidation
 Haptoglobulin :
Binds to free haemoglobin and prevents acceleration of lipid
peroxidation.
Essential oils as Antioxidants
 These are a class of volatile oils obtained by steam distillation
and these may be extracted from plants, fruits, flowers, barks,
roots and seeds.
 Advantages:
 Due to their small molecular size, they can easily penetrate the
skin tissue.
 As essential oils are lipid soluble they are capable of penetrating
the membranes easily even in conditions when oxygen deficiency
is present.
 They serve as powerful antioxidants & they prevent mutants and
oxidants in cells.
Pro-oxidants
 These are chemicals that induce oxidative stress either
through creating reactive oxygen species or inhibiting
antioxidant systems
 The oxidative stress produced by these chemicals can
damage cells and tissues
 Some substances can acts as either antioxidants or
prooxidants depending on the specific set of condition.
 Eg: Transitional metals (Mn, Fe, Cu), Vit C and Uric acid.
Uses in technology
 Food preservatives:
 Antioxidants used as food additives to help guard against
food deterioration
 Exposure to oxygen & sunlight are the 2 main factors in
the oxidation of food.
 Natural preservatives- vit C & vit E
 Synthetic antioxidants- Propyl gallate, Tertiary butyl
hydro quinone(TBHQ), Butylated hydroxy
anisole(BHA), Butylated hydroxy toluene(BHT)
 Unsaturated fats- drying, smoking, salting or fermenting.
 Industrial uses:
 Antioxidants are frequently added to industrial products.
 Common use : stabilizers in fuels & lubricants to prevent
oxidation
In gasolines to prevent polymerization that leads to the
formation of engine –fouling residues.
Summary of antioxidant defense
mechanism
THANK YOU