We all know that health comes first and foremost in people’s lives than others, such as position, power, rank or wealth. Without optimal health, will become meaningless, because that is fit and healthy is the dream of all.Epidemiological studies showed no strong relationship between health status and life expectancy of people with their consumption patterns. Communities in the region that consumes large amounts of protein, fat, sugar and salt, for example, is more likely to suffer from degenerative diseases than people in the region, many carbohydrates, fiber and vitamins that are consumed.
Countries with a majority of the population of long duration, like the Japanese, who consume foods rich in beans, vegetables and fruits and green tea berkebiasaan. Eskimo communities whose lives are not separated by the consumption of fish, rarely found in patients with cardiovascular disease. The consumption society groups, used the fermented milk was on average a longer time.
The increasing prevalence of degenerative diseases in Indonesia to motivate, Indonesia’s food and nutrition researchers to explore the antioxidant compounds from natural sources livestock. The rich biodiversity and natural wealth of indigenous materials, which was granted by God to the people of Indonesia, was potentially very valuable and useful to the health of society.
Antioxidants and resources
Antioxidants are substances that delay can be defined to contain and prevent the oxidation of lipids. In a special meaning, antioxidants are substances that delay or prevent the onset of antioksidasi reactions of free radicals in lipid oxidation (Kochhar and Rossell, 1990).
Source of antioxidants can be obtained from chemical reactions are classified into two groups, namely synthetic antioxidants (synthetic antioxidant) and natural antioxidants (antioxidant extraction yield of natural ingredients).
Some examples of permitted use of synthetic antioxidants for food use has been frequently used, namely, butyl hydroxy anisole (BHA), butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), propyl gallate, tert-butyl hidoksi quinone (TBHQ) and tocopherols . These antioxidants Antioxidants are natural antioxidants that have been produced synthetically for commercial purposes.
The natural antioxidants in the diet can be derived from (a) their knowledge of the antioxidant compounds of one or two components of the food, (b) antioxidant compounds formed from reactions in the process, (c) antioxidant compounds isolated natural sources and as food additives (Pratt, 1992).
natural antioxidant compounds will be isolated from plants. Plant Kingdom has some 250000-300000 angiosperm species and of these 400 species are known to be a human food ingredient. Isolation of natural antioxidants of plant origin that can be eaten have done, but not always the part that you can eat. Natural antioxidants in different parts of plants, such as wood, bark, roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, seeds and pollen (Pratt, 1992).
natural plant antioxidant compounds are usually phenolic or polyphenols, which may be a class of flavonoids, cinnamic acid derivatives, coumarins, tocopherols and polyfunctional organic acids. Flavonoids with antioxidant activity are flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, kateksin, flavonols and kalkon. While kafeat cinnamic acid derivatives include acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid and others.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is used as a condiment or traditional medicine. Scharf components such as ginger and 6-6 shogaol gingerol known to have antioxidant activity that was enough. Ginger extract, which were by volatilnya steam distillation components are removed, then the fraction of volatilnya after cleaning not found to have four and four types of derivatives gingerol diarilheptanoid strong antioxidant activity (Nakatani, 1992).
There are several phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity have been isolated from soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the flavonoids of them. flavonoids of soybeans, which is unique of all flavonoids, isoflavones isolated and identified.
Mechanism of action of antioxidants
Mechanism of action of antioxidants has two functions. The first function is the most important function of antioxidants such as hydrogen atom donor. Antioxidants (AH), the most important function is often referred to as primary antioxidants. This connection can be a fast hydrogen atoms in the lipid radical (R *, * offer Roo) or switch to a more stable, while the radical derivative of antioxidants (A *) has a more stable lipid radical.
The second function is a secondary function of antioxidants, as autooksidasi rate with a variety of mechanisms outside of the mechanism of chain termination autooksidasi a radical change is slow stable lipids (Gordon, 1990).
The addition of antioxidants (AH) primers with low concentrations of lipids inhibit or prevent fats and oils autooksidasi reaction. The addition of these can prevent oxidation on the formation and propagation phase (Fig. 1). antioxidant radical (A *) is formed in the reaction is relatively stable and do not have enough energy to react with lipid molecules in other new lipid radicals (Gordon, 1990) form.
Initiation: R * —-> RH + AH + A *
Radical lipids
Propagation: * Roo ROOH + AH —> + A *
Figure 1 Inhibition of the reaction of the major antioxidants against lipid radicals (Gordon, 1990)
High concentrations of antioxidants, which can be added to the rate of oxidation may be affected. At high concentrations, the antioxidant activity of phenolic antioxidants groups often disappear prooksidan (Figure 2) has become. Effect of concentration on the oxidation depends on the structure of the tested antioxidant that conditions and samples.
AH + O2 —-> A + * * Hoo
RO + AH ROOH —> * + H2O + A *
Figure 2 prooksidan act as antioxidants in higher concentrations (Gordon, 1990)
The role of antioxidants in health care
The process of aging and degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, blood vessel blockage, which can hiperlipidemik, arteriosclerosis, stroke and high blood pressure and immune system disorders are also caused by oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance in the market and the amount of oxidants in the body prooksidan. In this state, the molecular action of free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause cellular and genetic damage. Lack of nutrients and the presence of xenobiotic compounds in food or contaminated environment will worsen the situation.
If the Japanese public in general or some Asian societies rarely have problems with a variety of degenerative diseases, is caused by a varied selection of traditional healthy food and bioactive components. These substances have the ability as an antioxidant, which plays an important role in inhibiting the oxidation of the chemical reactions that can damage macromolecules and cause various health problems.
Antioxidants vs cardiovascular and cancer
positive role of antioxidants against cancer and cardiovascular disease (mainly atherosclerosis / blocking and causing the narrowing of blood vessels) was also investigated. Antioxidants play a role in protecting low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density (VLDL) from the oxidation reaction.
Prevention of atherosclerosis may, by inhibiting LDL oxidation by antioxidants in many foods are produced.
As agreed in cancer and cancer specialist, many scientists that the disease gene mutation or DNA derived from cells. Changes in gene mutation through the mechanism of replication errors and genetic errors that occur, ranging from 10-15%, or external factors that alter the structure of DNA, viruses, pollution, radiation, xenobiotic compounds and food consumption by 80-85%. Oxidation chain reaction of free radicals and creates a clear role in the process of mutation. And this risk can be controlled by consuming adequate amounts of antioxidants.
Cover
The result of the oxidation of fats in the diet was a significant impact on human health, which they consume. Know how to prevent this oxidation, it is necessary, which in turn is very helpful in maintaining the health of each individual. Knowledge of the various types of antioxidants that stand in nature, as well as health benefits for the body of great help in the regulation of diet on the body healthy and fit.
Several investigations and studies are conducted in antioxidants has not yet given the enormous health benefits. Natural active ingredients of marine microalgae, such as plants and marine animals required in the exploration, especially since bioaktif antioxidant content has not been thoroughly investigated.
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