Antioxidants

In Western medicine, antioxidants are defined as substances that counteract cellular damage by inhibiting the process of oxidation—a chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons to an oxidizing agent—and neutralizing free radicals, which are oxygen-containing molecules with an unpaired number of electrons leading to cellular instability (Lobo et al., 2010, Pharmacognosy Reviews).

Various classes of compounds such as flavonoids, flavones, catechins, and polyphenols serve as antioxidants, each with unique mechanisms of action to scavenge free radicals and protect cellular components (Panche et al., 2016, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity). These compounds are pivotal in mitigating oxidative stress, which is implicated in a range of pathological conditions (Pham-Huy et al., 2008, International Journal of Biomedical Science).