ANTIOXIDANTS

Definition
• A substance that inhibits oxidation

Oxidation of an apple
 Uses • Counteract the deterioration of stored
food products caused by oxygen
• Prevent cell damage

• Antioxidants give electrons to the free

How does it radicals and neutralize them.
work?
 Natural antioxidants

• Lutein • Vitamin A
• Beta-carotene • Vitamin C
• Lycopene • Vitamin E
• Selenium
Structures of Natural Antioxidants

Vitamin A structure Vitamin E structure

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

structure Beta-carotene structure
Examples
• Goji berries • Elderberries
• Wild blueberries • Kidney beans
• Dark chocolate • Cranberries
• Pecans • Blackberries
• Artichoke • Cilantro
 Synthetic BHA

antioxidants
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) BHT

• Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

TBHQ
• Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone (TBHQ)
• Propyl Gallate
Propyl
Gallate
 Synthetic antioxidants
Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone (BHT)
(TBHQ)

Butylated Hydroxyanisole
Propyl Gallate
(BHA)
 Advantages
1. Slows effects of aging
 Skin
 Eyes

2. Protects vision
Age-related vision loss and
blindness
 Advantage
3. Prevents Stroke and Heart Diseases
• Prevent damage of tissues and cells caused by free
radicals

4. Preserves food
• Food will not undergo oxidation

5. Prevents muscular degeneration

• Free radical damages tissues and cells
 Disadvantage
1. Harms body in surplus amount
• Antioxidants become toxic after long periods of time

2. Affects cancer treatments and medical tests

• Free radical of drugs will be neutralized
• Treatment and tests will be ineffective

3. Causes birth defects

• Surplus vitamin A
 RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS
Ultrasound-assisted extraction
• Based on conservation of kinetic energy of motion
• Acts directly in plant cells to release metabolites
• Uses waves
– (20 kHz ~ 100 MHz)
• Bubbles formed at 5000K, 1000 atm
• Bubbles implode
• Produces cavitation
Pulsed Electric Field Extraction
• Disintegrates structure of cell membrane
• Electric potential passes through cell membrane when suspended in electric field
• Electric potential separates membrane molecules
• Repulsion occurs
– after critical value (approximately 1V)
• Increases permeability
Enzyme-assisted extraction
• Phytochemicals in the plant matrices dispersed in cell cytoplasm
• Some compounds retained in polysaccharide-lignin network
• cellulase, α-amylase, and pectinase
– enhances recovery by breaking cell walls
– hydrolyses structural polysaccahrides
– hydrolyses lipid bodies
Microwave-assisted extraction
• Electromagnetic fields
– (300 MHz ~ 300 GHz)
• Electromagnetic energy converted to heat
• Follows ionic and dipole rotation mechanisms
• Disruption of weak hydrogen bonds
– by dipole rotation of molecules
• Migration of dissolved ions increases solvent penetration
 Lyc-O-InVision

• The company recently launched a nutrient complex positioned for eye health.
• The formula includes a rich combination of antioxidants such as standardized
tomato extract for lycopene, a carotenoid known for its ability to protect lutein
as it is transported to the eye;
• Lutein, an essential antioxidant concentrated in the macula, with benefits for
filtering out UV rays and blue light protects the eye from UV rays and oxidative
stress.