Antioxidant Assay Kits

An antioxidant assay is a biochemical method used to quantify the antioxidant activity of compounds, cells, or tissues. Antioxidants are crucial in neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, reducing oxidative stress, and preventing cellular damage. These assays provide insight into the antioxidant defense mechanisms within biological systems and assess the potential of synthetic and natural compounds to act as antioxidants.

Content on Antioxidant Assays

Antioxidant assays generally measure either the direct scavenging activity on radicals or the reduction potential of antioxidant compounds. Some of the key types include:

• DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) Assay - Measures the radical scavenging ability of antioxidants by observing a color change in the DPPH radical.
• ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) Assay - Involves the generation of a stable ABTS radical cation, which, upon reaction with an antioxidant, shows a color change measurable spectrophotometrically.
• Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) Assay - Quantifies the reduction of ferric (Fe^3+) to ferrous (Fe^2+) ions by antioxidants under acidic conditions.
• Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Assay - Measures the ability of antioxidants to quench peroxyl radicals, providing insights into chain-breaking antioxidant capacity.

Application of Antioxidant Assays

Antioxidant assays are applied extensively in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food industries to:

• Evaluate Antioxidant Capacity of natural and synthetic compounds, contributing to drug discovery and development, particularly in anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective applications.
• Quality Control of food products by measuring antioxidant levels, which can correlate to shelf life and health benefits.
• Research on Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, by assessing the potential therapeutic effects of antioxidants.

Each assay provides data on specific antioxidant mechanisms, enabling detailed investigation into antioxidant activity in various experimental setups.