This article aims to help the reader in the rapid identification of natural remedies useful in the treatment of various symptoms, disorders and pathologies. For some of the listed remedies, this utility may not have been confirmed by sufficient experimental tests conducted with a scientific method. Furthermore, any natural remedy presents potential risks and contraindications.
If available, we therefore recommend that you click on the link corresponding to the individual remedy to learn more about the topic. In any case, we remind you of the importance of avoiding self-treatment and to consult your doctor beforehand to ascertain the absence of contraindications and drug interactions.
Antioxidants are substances of endogenous or exogenous, enzymatic or non-enzymatic origin, responsible for defense against free radicals. The latter constitute a class of highly unstable and highly reactive chemicals, characterized by the presence of at least one unpaired electron in the outermost orbital. This chemical characteristic, causes free radicals to be perpetually in search of an "partner" electron to be "married" to the unpaired one; this electron, as in the most cruel of betrayals, is taken away from other biological substances, generating new free radicals as long as an antioxidant donor substance does not interrupt this process.
Free radicals can cause DNA damage, with transcription errors and translation of the genetic code, and at the level of membrane phospholipids, with the formation of peroxides of polyunsaturated acids. An excess of free radicals, not adequately countered by endogenous and exogenous antioxidant defenses, can therefore predispose to a long series of pathologies, including premature aging, degenerative diseases and neoplasms.
Antioxidant medicinal plants in herbal medicine and supplements with antioxidant properties in herbal medicine
Vitamin E, vitamin A, lipoic acid, vitamin C, lycopene, selenium, zinc, copper, glutathione, coenzyme Q10, carnosine, melatonin, polyphenols, bioflavonoids, N-Acetyl-Cysteine and plant pigments (such as chlorophyll), caffeic acid, anthocyanidins, procyanidins. Blueberries and berries in general, grape peel, all fresh fruit and vegetables, dark black chocolate, green tea. Milk thistle, Chlorella, Ginkgo biloba, Maritime pine, Curcuma, Alfalfa, Hibiscus or Carcadè, Dog rose, Ruta, Vine. Vegetable oils have antioxidant properties as they are generous sources of vitamin E (especially wheat germ oil).
