Antioxidants network

The body maintains an antioxidant network consisting of vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidant enzymes, and a group of related compounds called coenzyme Q, for which the general formula is shown below. The n represents the number of times that a particular group is repeated it can be 6, 8, or 10. Antioxidants are molecules that are easily oxidized, so they react readily with radicals before the radicals can react with other compounds in the body. Many common foods, such as green leafy vegetables, orange juice, and chocolate, contain antioxidants, as do coffee and tea. 

Dietary consumption of polyphenols is associated with a lower risk of degenerative diseases. In particular, protection of serum lipids from oxidation, which is a major step in the development of arteriosclerosis, has been demonstrated. More recently, new avenues have been explored in the capacity of polyphenols to interact with the expression of the human genetic potential. The understanding of the interaction between this heterogeneous class of compounds and cellular responses, due either to their ability to interplay in the cellular antioxidant network or directly to affect gene expression, has increased. 

S. Vermani, A. Angusti, S. Manfredini (2004). The antioxidants and pro-antioxidants network an overview. Curr. Pharm. Des. 10 1677-1694. 

For these reasons, an antioxidant network becomes imperative. 

Table 4 Some of the compounds that are part of the antioxidant network in humans ...

Thiele, J.J. et al., The antioxidant network of the stratum corneum, in Oxidants and Antioxidants in Cutaneous Biology. Current Problems in Dermatology, vol. 29, Thiele, J. and Eisner, P., Eds., Karger, Basel, 2001, p. 26. 

Thus, Nature has integrated thiol/disulfide exchange reactions in the regulation of its metabolic and antioxidant networks. The potentially cytotoxic effects of protein S-thiolation will remain controversial until the relationship between the systems of glutathione reductase, thioredoxin, glutaredoxin and thioltransferase are better understood. 

The requirement for SOD and catalase to work together hints at the importance of antioxidant networking and of course SOD and catalase do not work in isolation. Stress-resistance is the product of many factors, including efficient protein turnover and DNA repair — our second example. 

Pycnogenol has been reported to have a strong antioxidant activity either in vitro utilizing cultured cells or in vivo in experimental animals and in humans, and to participate to the cellular antioxidant network. Further beneficial effects such as vasorelaxation, immunomodulatory function, and anti-iirflammatory activities have been reported, coirfimting the potential of this extract as an effective phytochemical. 

The decline of the magic bullet theory the rise of the antioxidant network theory. 

---