Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Cell Culture Systems : Exploring phenol oxidases as biocatalysts for better antioxidant activity

ROS and their proven involvement in some human physiopathologies have drawn significant interest over the last few decades. Oxidative stress has been associated with many diseases such as cancers. The development of disease can be attributed to the oxidative alteration of molecules such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids by ROS. The human body has developed its own defence system to deal with oxidative stress, but certain external factors such as UVR may result in elevated cellular ROS concentrations, overwhelming the body's defence system thus leading to disease. To neutralize this effect, exogenic antioxidants particularly polyphenols, may be helpful to counteract ROS by preventing oxidation caused by ROS. To assess the antioxidant capacity of selected phenols, polyphenolic compounds were successfully synthesized in this study through biocatalytic reactions using phenol oxidases, to produce natural polyphenols suggested to have higher antioxidant activity than their monomers. Production of natural antioxidants was significantly considered for eventual consumer satisfaction and world market success if putative antioxidant were to go market.