Cited by 2,238Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative StressRedox biology and oxidative stressFree Radicals and Antioxidants

Measuring reactive species and oxidative damage in vivo and in cell culture: how should you do it and what do the results mean?

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Halliwell, Barry, Whiteman, Matthew·2004·British Journal of Pharmacology

Abstract

Free radicals and other reactive species (RS) are thought to play an important role in many human diseases. Establishing their precise role requires the ability to measure them and the oxidative damage that they cause. This article first reviews what is meant by the terms free radical, RS, antioxidant, oxidative damage and oxidative stress. It then critically examines methods used to trap RS, including spin trapping and aromatic hydroxylation, with a particular emphasis on those methods applicable to human studies. Methods used to measure oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins and methods used to detect RS in cell culture, especially the various fluorescent "probes" of RS, are also critically reviewed. The emphasis throughout is on the caution that is needed in applying these methods in view of possible errors and artifacts in interpreting the results.

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Crossref · 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705776

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385 of 385 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Many assays in the sports science literature are fundamentally ill suited to deciphering whether a compound with antioxidant activity is actually acting as an antioxidant.

    “Unfortunately, many of the assays in the sports science literature merely serve to create confusion as they are fundamentally ill suited to deciphering whether a compound with antioxidant activity is actually acting as an antioxidant.”

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Authors
Halliwell, B., & Whiteman, M.
Affiliations
National University of Singapore (SG)
Venue
British Journal of Pharmacology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-05
Volume
142
Issue
2
Pages
231-255
ISSN
  • 0007-1188 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5381
OpenAlex
W1977913875
Cited by
2,238
References
385
Citations by year
2026: 47 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 77 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 92 · 2021: 103 · 2020: 127 · 2019: 106 · 2018: 110 · 2017: 113 · 2016: 123 · 2015: 129 · 2014: 134 · 2013: 141 · 2012: 134
FWCI
6.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Keywords
reactive species, free radicals, oxidative stress, oxidative damage, antioxidants, spin trapping, aromatic hydroxylation, fluorescent probes, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, in vivo measurement, cell culture, measurement artifacts
MeSH terms
Animals, Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Spectrometry, Fluorescence, Reactive Oxygen Species, Oxidative Stress, Cell Culture Techniques

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