| dc.description.abstract | Free radicals are molecules that have one or more
unpaired electrons. As we know that some
cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease,
diabetes mellitus, and cancer are diseases that
triggered by oxidative damage in the presence of
free radicals. Excessive oxidation of the nucleic
acids, proteins, fats and DNA cells can initiate the
occurrence of degenerative diseases such as
coronary heart disease, cataracts, cognitive
disorders and cancer (Leong and Shui, 2001; Pietta
1999). Humans have had a defense system against
oxidants that come from within or from outside the
body in the form of diet. Defense of the body such
as enzymes peroxidase, catalase, glutathione,
histidine, peptidin often still lacking due to
environmental influences and poor diet (Pietta,
1999).
Antioxidants are molecules that can inhibit the
oxidation of molecules that can produce free
radicals. Antioxidant is a compound that has the
ability to react with free radicals to produce a stable
free radical by accepting or donating electrons.
Based on the source of, antioxidant divided into two
kinds, namely natural antioxidants and antioxidants
synthetic (artificial). Synthetic antioxidants are most
often used such as Propyl Error (PG), Butylated
hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated hydroxytoluene
(BHT) and Tertbutylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The
synthetic antioxidants can give side effects that
harmful to human health because it’s carcinogenic.
Various studies on BHA and BHT indicate that this
can cause tumors in laboratory animals at long-term
use (Kikuzaki, 1993). Natural antioxidant is an
antioxidant that is obtained naturally in plants.
Natural antioxidants are usually more desirable,
because the level of better security and broader
benefits in the food, health and cosmetics. Natural
antioxidants can be found in food of vegetables and
fruits. As an example of natural antioxidants such as
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Polyphenols.
Their concerns about the potential side effects of
synthetic antioxidants used as motivation for the
study of natural antioxidants as one alternative. | en_US |
