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Superoxide

Electro-Ox is unique in its ability to directly measure antioxidants that scavenge the biologically relevant superoxide radical (O₂^-). O₂^- radical scavenging is a good marker for overall antioxidant activity in plants and humans due to its significance in biological systems. Plants produce many compounds to scavenge O₂^-, a by-product of excessive light during photosynthesis. O₂^- is also produced in many metabolic functions in humans such as wound healing and immune response. It is a major cause of cell damage and aging, and is a precursor to other harmful radicals.

More Information:

We measure the capacity of antioxidants to scavenge the superoxide radical because it is produced during many cellular functions including normal aerobic metabolism by the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and in response to invading microorganisms by leukocytes¹.  Although superoxide is damaging by itself, it also serves as a precursor to other more reactive and destructive radicals including the hydroxyl radical. The ability of a supplement or food to reduce/scavange superoxide is an important first step in preventing oxidative damage and thus human disease.   Additional reactive oxygen species ROS have been successfully generated and measured including hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical

ROS are a normal part of human cellular response, and are involved in phagocytosis, energy production, intercellular signaling, regulation of cell growth and synthesis of biological compounds [reviewed in ¹ and ²].  However, during oxidative stress, ROS are released in the body causing oxidative damage to DNA, lipids, and proteins/enzymes.  Oxidative stress has been implicated in aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other human diseases.  Recent nutritional studies indicate antioxidants found in foods and nutritional supplements are important in prevention of oxidative damage [reviewed in ³].  Thus, measuring foods and supplements ability to scavenge free radicals is a key factor in determining the most effective antioxidants for disease prevention.  Several methods currently exist to measure total antioxidant capacity or activity (^{4, 5, 6}).  Typically these methods involve measuring a secondary reaction or interaction of the ROS with a chemical probe. 
           
Electro-Ox is a novel total antioxidant activity method that directly measure the concentration of superoxide radical scavanged/reduced by antioxidants in a variety of sample types (ie. food, herbal and nutritional supplements, fruit or vegetable juice powder, human biological fluids).

References:

1. B. Halliwell, J.M.C. Gutteridge, eds.  Free radicals in biology and medicine.  Oxford University Press; 1999
2. K.H. Cheeseman, T.F. Slater, British Medical Bulletin (1993) Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 481-493
3. C. Kaur, H.C. Kapoor, International Journal of Food Science and Technology (2001) Vol 36, pp 703-725.
4. A. Ghiselli, M. Serafini, F. Natella, C. Scaccini, Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2000) Vol 29, No 29, pp 1106-1114.
5. G.H. Cao, H.M. Alessio, R.G. Cutler, Free Radical Biology and Medicine (1993) Vol 14, pp303-311.
6. B. Ou, M. Hampsch-Woodile, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry (2001) Vol 49, pp 4619-4626.