The Importance of Antioxidants for Human Health and Some Antioxidant Determination Methods in Plants

Abstract

Against the state of oxidative stress within living organisms, plant-derived phenolic compounds offer significant natural defense mechanisms. These compounds, naturally present in plants, constitute an essential group of bioactive compounds associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their ability to counteract oxidative damage. Phenolic compounds are a diverse range of natural products found in plants, demonstrating various health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, and other biological activities. These phenolic compounds exhibit antioxidant activity due to their capacity to neutralize ROS. The determination of antioxidants in plants refers to the analytical methods employed to quantitatively identify antioxidant compounds present in plant materials. Such determinations play a pivotal role in assessing the antioxidant capacity of plant samples, ensuring the quality of plant-derived products, and comprehending the bioactive compound content within plants. Antioxidant determination involves the utilization of diverse chemical and spectrophotometric techniques. These methods are employed to assess various aspects of antioxidant compounds in plants. Antioxidant determination holds significance in establishing the functional content of plant products and evaluating their positive effects on health.