Cost Effective Natural Antioxidants

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species can damage nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates that consequently affect the immune functions causing degenerative diseases.Antioxidants act as free radical scavenger leading to reduced risk of oxidative stress and associated disorders.Antioxidant phytochemicals such as carotenoids, tocopherols, ascorbates, lipoic acids and polyphenols offer protection against oxidative stress associated degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders and aging.Cereals, legumes, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and beverages are the main sources of dietary polyphenols. Carrots, tomatoes, parsleys, orange and green leafy vegetables like amaranth, chenopods, mustard, fenugreek, spinach, cabbage, radish and turnip are the rich sources of Carotenoids.Medicinal plants also contain several phytochemicals with antioxidant activities, which can be used for the prevention or treatment of many diseases, including cancer.Tocotrienols and tocopherols mainly found in oils are associated with the reduced risk of cancer, Alzheimer's and cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol lowering ability and inhibited LDL oxidation.Some sulfur containing compounds like glutathione, lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid present in meat, liver and heart also offer protection against oxidative stress.