Artificial Antioxidant May Be The Next Big Thing

Free radicals are reactive molecules naturally present in the body that are created during natural processes such as breathing and are a natural part of human metabolism. When there are too many in the body these highly reactive molecules can damage cells or DNA which can contribute to a range of diseases and may be responsible for aging.

The body has chemical defenses against free radical damage through vitamins C and E. Researchers investigated how the man made TEMPO antioxidant would perform. A cell environment was mimicked to test effectiveness of TEMPO on converting free radicals to non-harmful molecules compared to vitamin E, as published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

TEMPO was observed to be up to 100 times faster at converting free radicals than vitamin E in fatty environments, meaning that it may be an effective mean of protecting skin tissues or cells walls from free radical damage. According to the researchers this study may lead to developments of pharmaceutical therapy targeting prevention of free radical damage such as a topical cream to protect skin after sun exposure or a pill to protect neurons from damage.