Investigation of certain aspects of the studies of antioxidants in heterogeneous systems, oil-in-water emulsions

Abstract

The review presents an analysis of published works concerning the various aspects of studies of antioxidants in heterogeneous systems, in particular, in oil-in-water emulsions. It is shown that the discussed methodological approach is an important and integral part of a comprehensive study and evaluation of the antioxidant activity of a wide range of natural and synthetic compounds, their mixtures and extracts obtained from various sources of natural origin. This approach makes it possible to objectively evaluate the properties of these compounds and their potential using models simulating native biological disperse systems. Examples of a convenient, accessible, and biologically relevant model are emulsions obtained based on animal tissue homogenates, which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids within their lipid composition. Lipid peroxidation in these emulsions that is initiated by various methods is used for screening new substances, studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of action of antioxidants of various origins, as well as investigating the structure—activity dependence. The results obtained in the test system using emulsions based on animal tissue homogenates open up new promising opportunities and can contribute to the development of new effective antioxidants possessing specified properties and meeting the stringent requirements imposed on them in the biomedical and food industries. The methodology for assessing the antioxidant activity of various substances using emulsions based on animal tissue homogenates that is described in this review may be useful for applications in other interdisciplinary studies, including those of an ecological nature.