A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods

Antioxidants remain interesting molecules of choice for suppression of the toxic effects of free radicals in foods and human systems. The current practice involves the use of mainly synthetic molecules as potent antioxidant agents. However, due to the potential negative impact on human health, there...

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Main Authors: Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwu, Roghayeh Amini Sarteshnizi, Chibuike C. Udenigwe, Rotimi E. Aluko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/4865
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author Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwu
Roghayeh Amini Sarteshnizi
Chibuike C. Udenigwe
Rotimi E. Aluko
author_facet Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwu
Roghayeh Amini Sarteshnizi
Chibuike C. Udenigwe
Rotimi E. Aluko
author_sort Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwu
collection DOAJ
description Antioxidants remain interesting molecules of choice for suppression of the toxic effects of free radicals in foods and human systems. The current practice involves the use of mainly synthetic molecules as potent antioxidant agents. However, due to the potential negative impact on human health, there is an intensive effort within the research community to develop natural alternatives with similar antioxidant efficacy but without the negative side effects of synthetic molecules. Still, the successful development of new molecules depends on the use of reliable chemical or cell culture assays to screen antioxidant properties. Chemical antioxidant assays include the determination of scavenging ability against free radicals such as DPPH, superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide. Other antioxidant tests include the ability of compounds to bind and sequester prooxidant metal cations, reduce ferric iron, and attenuate the rate of lipid oxidation. Ex vivo tests utilize cell cultures to confirm entry of the molecules into cells and the ability to quench synthetic intracellular free radicals or to stimulate the increased biosynthesis of endogenous antioxidants. In order to assist researchers in their choice of antioxidant evaluation methods, this review presents background scientific information on some of the most commonly used antioxidant assays with a comparative discussion of the relevance of published literature data to food science and human nutrition applications.
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spelling doaj.art-ab56250aa1a3459fadb6f98c7618bb282023-11-22T08:53:13ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-08-012616486510.3390/molecules26164865A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay MethodsIfeanyi D. Nwachukwu0Roghayeh Amini Sarteshnizi1Chibuike C. Udenigwe2Rotimi E. Aluko3School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USASchool of Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaSchool of Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, CanadaDepartment of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, CanadaAntioxidants remain interesting molecules of choice for suppression of the toxic effects of free radicals in foods and human systems. The current practice involves the use of mainly synthetic molecules as potent antioxidant agents. However, due to the potential negative impact on human health, there is an intensive effort within the research community to develop natural alternatives with similar antioxidant efficacy but without the negative side effects of synthetic molecules. Still, the successful development of new molecules depends on the use of reliable chemical or cell culture assays to screen antioxidant properties. Chemical antioxidant assays include the determination of scavenging ability against free radicals such as DPPH, superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide. Other antioxidant tests include the ability of compounds to bind and sequester prooxidant metal cations, reduce ferric iron, and attenuate the rate of lipid oxidation. Ex vivo tests utilize cell cultures to confirm entry of the molecules into cells and the ability to quench synthetic intracellular free radicals or to stimulate the increased biosynthesis of endogenous antioxidants. In order to assist researchers in their choice of antioxidant evaluation methods, this review presents background scientific information on some of the most commonly used antioxidant assays with a comparative discussion of the relevance of published literature data to food science and human nutrition applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/4865reactive oxygen speciesantioxidant assaysfree radicalslipid peroxidationradical scavengingcell culture
spellingShingle Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwu
Roghayeh Amini Sarteshnizi
Chibuike C. Udenigwe
Rotimi E. Aluko
A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods
Molecules
reactive oxygen species
antioxidant assays
free radicals
lipid peroxidation
radical scavenging
cell culture
title A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods
title_full A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods
title_fullStr A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods
title_full_unstemmed A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods
title_short A Concise Review of Current In Vitro Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assay Methods
title_sort concise review of current in vitro chemical and cell based antioxidant assay methods
topic reactive oxygen species
antioxidant assays
free radicals
lipid peroxidation
radical scavenging
cell culture
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/16/4865
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