ANTIOXIDANTS
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Antioxidants are the substances which neutralize the harmful affects of free radicals and protect the cell against the oxidative stress
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They are
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Superoxide dismutase – present in cytoplasm and produced by mitochondria. It converts super oxide to hydrogen peroxide
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Catalase – produced by peroxisomes. It converts hydrogen peroxide to water
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Glutathione peroxidase – produced by mitochondria and present in cytoplasm. It converts moreharmful hydroxyl ions into hydrogen peroxide
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Vitamin C in cytoplasm
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Ferritin and Ceruloplasmin present in cytoplasm – Levels of active forms of iron and copper are minimized by binding of ions to storage and transport proteins like transferrin, ferritin, ceruloplasmin there by minimizing the formation of hydroxyl ion
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Vitamins E, A and β Carotene in the plasma membrane and cell membrane of organelles
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