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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 Jul 15.
Published in final edited form as: J Control Release. 2011 Mar 30;153(1):56–63. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.03.022

Table 1.

Classes of antioxidants tested for therapeutic use.

Class of antioxidants Examples Mechanism of action
Antioxidant enzymes Superoxide dismutase



Catalase		 Catalytic dismutation of superoxide anion into O2
and H2O2

Disproportionation of H2O2 into O2 and H2O
Flavonoids Catechins, flavonols, flavons Both transition metal chelators and ROS
scavengers
Isothiocyanates Sulforaphane, oltipraz Phase II enzyme enhancers
Phenolic compounds BHA, t-BHQ, curcumin Enhancers of phase II enzymes and conjugating
enzymes
Thiols N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, dithiols,
reduced glutathione		 Intracellular redox buffer, metal chelators, radical
quenchers
Vitamins Tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic
acid (vitamin C)		 ROS scavengers
Others Melatonin ROS scavengers
*

BHA, butylated hydroxyanisole; t-BHQ, t-butylhydroquinone 5; ROS, reactive oxygen species.