Antioxidant and anti-UV activity tests
Preservatives for cosmetics - Anti-oxidants and anti-UV

Determining the antioxidant power of a substance is a delicate task, as it relies on a multitude of pathways, including :

• inhibition of pro-oxidant enzyme pathways;

• deactivation of a singlet oxygen ;

• enzymatic deactivation of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species);

• transition metal chelation ;

• or ROS stabilization.

Numerous physicochemical methods can be used to assess a product's antioxidant activity. However, as antioxidants vary in nature, and oxidation mechanisms are highly complex, it is impossible to compare methods and establish standardization. Combining different results gives a relatively accurate indication of a product's antioxidant capacity.

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