**2. Free radicals & ROS**

The negative effect of free radicals may be mitigated by antioxidants primarily through their radical-scavenging ability. These antioxidants stabilize radicals by donating electrons and thus preventing oxidation of DNA or other cellular components. While the body is equipped with its own defense system against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals produced in the body, it also relies on external (exogenous) antioxidants including those contained in food. As environmental conditions lead to premature aging, a search for a suitable antioxidant product is vital.

Free radicals cause damage in the body because of their instability and high reactivity. ROS are of particular interest. During aerobic respiration, mitochondrial electron transport results in the formation of a ROS (superoxide) as a by-product. Solar UV radiation also leads to formation of ROS. Oxygen is particularly vulnerable to radical formation due to its electronic configuration with two valence shell unpaired electrons. Thus, there are several types of ROS including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and hydroxyl radical. Free radicals of other atomic species specifically nitrogen are also formed within the body.

ROS can potentially react with other cellular entities including DNA which can lead to DNA modification and ultimately bodily harm. The guanine base in DNA is particularly susceptible to attack by ROS formed by solar UV radiation. Oxidation reactions which modify the guanine base may also lead to single-strand breaks in DNA (Held, 2010).

While the effects of oxidative stress on the body vary according to type and duration, cells often halt division (enter G0 phase) and may even undergo apoptosis under severe stress. The general response to oxidative stress is cell cycle arrest through the expression of various inhibitor proteins (such as p21). Nevertheless, ROS also serve useful roles within the body including intracellular and intercellular communication (Held, 2010).
