Antioxidants Obtained from the Natural Sources: Importance in Human Health

Abstract

Now a day the interest in natural and synthetic antioxidants is increasing very rapidly in functional food ingredients and dietary supplements. The differences between the number of free radicals and antioxidants are the main cause of the oxidative damage of lipids, proteins, and DNA. In this chapter, we are summarising the natural antioxidants which have been obtained from plants, animals, or microbial sources. Flavonoids are the most comprehensive antioxidant compounds which are obtained from natural sources. These flavonoids are reactive toward many radicals which are studied by many researchers under various experimental conditions and their structural activity relationships have been recognised. This chapter includes the various types of antioxidants obtained from natural sources and their impact on human health as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and phytoceuticals as well as their use in the treatment of various diseases along with the mechanism of action.