Antioxidants optimization

Properly end-capped acetal resins, substantially free of ionic impurities, are relatively thermally stable. However, the methylene groups in the polymer backbone are sites for peroxidation or hydroperoxidation reactions which ultimately lead to scission and depolymerisation. Thus antioxidants (qv), especially hindered phenols, are included in most commercially available acetal resins for optimal thermal oxidative stabiUty. 

Frozen Food. The chelating and acidic properties of citric acid enable it to optimize the stabiUty of frozen food products by enhancing the action of antioxidants and inactivating naturally present enzymes which could cause undesirable browning and loss of firmness (57,58). 

Many enzymes need a certain ionic strength to maintain an optimum stabiHty and solubiHty, eg, bacterial a-amylases show optimal stabiHty in the presence of 1—2% NaCl. Some enzymes may need certain cations in low amounts for stabilization, eg, Ca " is known to stabilize subtiHsins and many bacterial a-amylases. Antioxidants (qv) such as sodium sulfite can stabilize cysteine-containing enzymes which, like papain, are often easily oxidized. 

A multidimensional system using capillary SEC-GC-MS was used for the rapid identification of various polymer additives, including antioxidants, plasticizers, lubricants, flame retardants, waxes and UV stabilizers (12). This technique could be used for additives having broad functionalities and wide volatility ranges. The determination of the additives in polymers was carried out without performing any extensive manual sample pretreatment. In the first step, microcolumn SEC excludes the polymer matrix from the smaller-molecular-size additives. There is a minimal introduction of the polymer into the capillary GC column. Optimization of the pore sizes of the SEC packings was used to enhance the resolution between the polymer and its additives, and smaller pore sizes could be used to exclude more of the polymer... 

Green tea consists of a wealth of simple phenolics (monomers), whereas black tea provides more complex polyphenols (dimers and polymers). It was found that with lipids the simple compounds were more effective antioxidants, while under aqueous conditions, polymers tended to have more activity. Weisburger (2001) suggested that polymers formed from a 2-5 unit polymerisation state seemed to be optimal, probably because the monomer is metabolised and excreted too rapidly, whereas the higher 6-10 unit polymers may suffer from difficulty in penetrating cellular membranes and be poorly absorbed. 

Routine antioxidant vitamin supplementation, e.g. with vitamins C and/or E, of the diabetic diet should be considered. Vitamin C depletion is present in all diabetics irrespective of the presence of vascular disease. A recent study demonstrated no significant difference between the dietary intake of vitamin C (the main determinant of plasma ascorbate) in patients with diabetes and age-matched controls, confirming the view that ascorbate depletion is secondary to the diabetic process and su esting that diabetic patients require additional intakes of the vitamin to maintain optimal levels (Sinclair et /., 1994). Antioxidant supplementation may have additive beneficial effects on a wide variety of processes involved in diabetic vascular damage including blood pressure, immune function, inflammatory reactions. 

At least some of the antioxidant nutrients are essential to human health, and others (such as carotenoids) may be highly beneficial, particularly in preventing cancer (e.g. Block et /., 1992). However, we do not yet know what dietary intakes are optimal. In principle, this could be investigated by varying the dietary intake of antioxidants and measuring free-radical damage in the human body. This is one of our current research directions. 

It has been observed that complete immobilisation of the stabiliser through a graft leads to deactivation. However, proper selection of the ratio of phenolic to graftable groups leads to a polymer-bound product which retains sufficient mobility to provide a high level of antioxidant activity. An n/m ratio of 5-10 provides an optimal balance of graftability and antioxidant activity [144]. 

Compatibility of the excipients and active ingredient is addressed (but often with little detail). Formulation optimization and excipient ranges may be included in the discussion. The inclusion of antioxidants in the formulation is discussed as appropriate. 

The principle of antioxidant detection is shown in Fig. 17.3. Superoxide was enzymatically produced and dismutated spontaneously to oxygen and H202. Under controlled conditions of superoxide generation such as air saturation of the buffer, optimal hypoxanthine concentration (100 pM) and XOD activity (50mU ml-1) a steady-state superoxide level could be obtained for several min (580-680 s). Since these steady-state superoxide concentrations can be detected by the cyt c-modified gold electrode, the antioxidate activity can be quantified from the response of the sensor electrode by the percentage of the current decrease. 

Londono-Londono J, Rodrigues de Lima V, Lara O, Gil A, Pasa TBC, Arango GJ, Pineda JRR (2009) Clean recovery of antioxidant flavonoids from citrus peel optimizing an aqueous ultrasound-assisted extraction method. J Food Chem. doi 10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.05.075... 

CLA as An Antioxidant. The complete mechanism of anticarcinogenic activity of CLA is not known. Some of the CLA effect is believed due to its antioxidant properties. For example, use of a water/ethanol system that is incubated at 40"C under air for 14 days, showed CLA reduced the oxidation of linoleic acid by 86% (8), Under the same conditions a-tocopherol reduced oxidation by only 63% and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) reduced oxidation by 92%. Dose-response studies were conducted, and it was found that the optimal ratio for CLA to protect linoleic acid from oxidation is 1 1000 (CLAilinoleic acid). 

In general, optimal antioxidant activity of flavonoid is associated with the presence of multiple phenolic groups (hydroxyl groups increase the antioxidant activity, whereas methoxy groups suppress it), a carbonyl group at C-4, and free C3 and C5 hydroxyl groups. All these structural features are summarised in Fig. (2). 

Halliwell B. 1999. Establishing the significance and optimal intake of dietary antioxidants The biomarker concept. Nutr Rev 57 104-113. 

Oxidative stress reduces the rate of cell proliferation, and that occurring during chemotherapy may interfere with the cytotoxic effects of antineoplastic drugs, which depend on rapid proliferation of cancer cells for optimal activity. Antioxidants detoxify ROS and may enhance the anticancer effects of chemotherapy. For some supplements, activities beyond their antioxidant properties, such as inhibition of topoisomerase II or protein tyrosine kinases, may also contribute. ROS cause or contribute to certain side effects that are common to many anticancer drugs, such as gastrointestinal toxicity and muagenesis. ROS also contribute to side effects that occur only with individual agents, such as doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Antioxidants can reduce or prevent many of these side effects, and for some supplements the protective effect results from activities other than their antioxidant properties. Certain side effects, however, such as alopecia and myelosuppression, are not prevented... 

Research on carotenoids and cardiovascular disease (CVD) stems from the discovery that the etiology of this disease involves oxidative processes that may be slowed by exogenous antioxidants. One of the best understood processes contributing to development of CVD is the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). When LDL becomes oxidized, it is readily taken up by foam cells in the vascular endothelium where it contributes to the development of atherosclerotic lesion. Enhancement of the oxidative stability of LDL may also prevent other oxidative steps involved in clinical expression of coronary disease (e.g., myocardial infarction) and possibly steps not related to LDL oxidation. There is optimism about the potential role of P-carotene in prevention of CVD... 

---