Antioxidants: A review

Abstract

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defense in favor of the first. Free radicals can exert negative effects on biomolecules and metabolic reactions that results in cellular damage which may be involved in aging processes and degenerative pathologies. To limit the harmful effects of free radicals, the organism has developed a series of antioxidant defense systems in order to protect themselves. These systems give to the free radicals elimination or its transformation into stable molecules. The antioxidant defense system consists on cellular enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and non-enzymatic antioxidants either endogenous (glutathione) or exogenous (vitamin E, vitamin C, flavonoids, carotenoids) between others.

Keywords

Antioxidants - free radicals - oxidative stress