Antioxidant Function of Beta-carotene
In addition to preventing free radical formation resulting from reactions involving single oxygen Beta-carotene can react with or scavenge free radicals directly and thus act as antioxidant.
The mechanism by which Beta-carotene halts thus damaging process has been examined and found that Beta-carotene is a chain breaking antioxidant.
Unlike antioxidants that prevent the initiation of lipid peroxidation, Beta-carotene stops the chain reaction by trapping free radicals.
Beta-carotene is an unusual type of lipid antioxidants in that it is most effective at the low oxygen concentrations found in capillary beds in tissues far removed from direct exposure to oxygen.
The antioxidant function of Beta-carotene might complement the action of other antioxidant protective molecules, such as catalase, gluthathione peroxidase, vitamin C and vitamin E, which are not as effective at lower oxygen concentrations.
Vitamin A, in contrast, is a very weak antioxidant and does not quench singlet oxygen.
Antioxidant Function of Beta-carotene
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