M. Leopoldini, N. Russo, M. Toscano
Mar 15, 2011
Citations
23
Influential Citations
953
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Quality indicators
Journal
Food Chemistry
Abstract
In this review, we present a summary of the research work performed so far using high accuracy quantum chemical methods on polyphenolic antioxidant compounds. We have reviewed the different groups of polyphenols, which mostly belong to the Mediterranean food culture, i.e. phenolic acids, flavonoids and stilbenes. The three main proposed mechanisms through which the antioxidants may play their protective role, which is the H atom transfer, the single electron transfer and the metals chelation, have been analysed and discussed in details. This work represents a further important contribution to the elucidation of the beneficial effects on health of these substances.