Natural and Nature-Inspired Synthetic Small Molecule Antioxidants in the Context of Green Chemistry

Environmental triggers may aggravate oxidative stress due to an excess accumulation of free radicals in the human body, leading to cellular damage and potentially resulting in pathological conditions. Low-molecular-weight antioxidants, important tools of the biochemical defense system, are discussed in this chapter. The identification of the most common food-derived small molecule antioxidants along with their isolation (with emphasis on green methodologies) and structural characterization are summarized, followed by a listing of the limitations of their use in preventing and/or treating diseases. Finally, recent examples of chemical modifications and formulations to improve the druglike properties and therapeutic potential of the natural antioxidants are introduced.