Oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity: development and prospects

Chemical technology-based oxidative stress evaluation methods are of particular significance in practical applications. Reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) are inevitable metabolic by-products of the metabolism of the vital processes in living organisms. It has been hypothesized that the redox reaction balance could be coordinated with drugs and other interventions to prevent or treat diseases. Several indicators have been tested as evaluation standards in this field but standardized indicators have been difficult to achieve due to the complex regulation of the redox reactions in different organisms. Therefore, it is inevitable to use multiple methods based on different principles in order to evaluate oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity. In this review, we summarized the oxidative stress and the antioxidant capacity evaluation methods used in various organisms and antioxidant-using methods. We also described the strengths and weaknesses of each method, as well as potential directions for the development of new technologies. Signaling pathways regulating redox reactions are activated to balance the redox status and maintain the normal function of cells.