Antioxidants are naturally occuring compounds that inhibit oxidation. During oxidation free radicals are produced, which may damage cells and thereby negatively influence health and vitality.
Antioxidants act as free-radical scavengers. This means they can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals, unstable molecules that the body produces as a reaction to environmental and other stressors.
Main source of antioxidants are plants. Herbs, fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and are therfore used as raw material to extract antioxidants. Plant nutrients and phyto-chemicals like vitamin A, C and E, the minerals copper, zinc and selenium, flavonoids, phenols, polyphenols, and phytoestrogens are known potent antioxidants.
Ultrasonic extraction is used to isolate antioxidative phyto-chemicals from botanicals in order to manufacture antioxidants, which are used in health foods, pharmaceuticals, supplements and as cosmetic additives. Being a non-thermal method, ultrasonic extraction prevents the thermal degradation of temperature-sensitive antioxidants. Furthermore, sonication gives high antioxidant yields in a very rapid process. Read more about the extraction of antioxidants and other bioactive substances below!