Polyphenols as antioxidants

Abstract

Many natural and synthetic polyphenolic compounds are antioxidants. Tremendous growth in investigation of their antioxidant activities has been noticed in the past two decades, the results of which strongly supportthe role of polyphenols as antioxidants in the prevention of degenerative diseases,particularly cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Extensive studies on the antioxidantproperties of polyphenols suggest that the mechanisms of antioxidant action of polyphenols are mainly based on hydrogen transfer, electron transfer and metal chelation. © 2011 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.