Methods for Total Antioxidant Activity Determination: A Review

Abstract

An overview of the importance and mechanism of action of antioxidants, as well as of the methods of assessment of the antioxidant capacity is presented. Antioxidants react through free radical or molecular oxygen quenching, being capable to either delay or inhibit the oxidation processes which occur under the influence of molecular oxygen or reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants are responsible for the defense mechanism of the organism against the pathologies associated to the attack of free radicals, thus the intake of plant derived antioxidants is involved in the prevention of degenerative diseases caused by oxidative stress, such as cancer, Parkinson, Alzheimer or atherosclerosis. The methods of antioxidant capacity evaluation, including spectrometry, chromatography and electrochemical techniques are detailed with respect to principles and analytical performances.