antioxidant

plural antioxidants

1. Any substance that slows or prevents the oxidation of another chemical.
2. nutritionOne of a group of vitamins that act against the effects of free radicals.

   The postulated mechanism for the reaction of coumarin 4 as an antioxidant, as indicated in Fig 3, relies on the mercapto hydrogen atom (bold), which is under the influence of resonance and inductive effects.

   2015 July 6, “Hydrogen Peroxide Scavenging Activity of Novel Coumarins Synthesized Using Different Approaches”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI

   1 more example

   Although BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are avoided by some consumers because several studies have suggested they may be toxic or carcinogenic (they are banned in Britain), these antioxidants have also been shown to inhibit the action of cancer-causing chemicals, and BHT has been shown to suppress the growth of harmful viruses.

   1985 May 1, Jane E. Brody, “PERSONAL HEALTH; HOW INNOVATIONS AFFECT SAFETY AND NUTRITION”, in The New York Times

1. not comparableActing or having agents that act against oxidation.

   In Philasterides dicentrarchi, a scuticociliate pathogen of turbot, resveratrol causes oxidative stress, inhibition of antioxidant enzymes and morphological alterations in the mitochondria [17 ,54 ].

   2016 January 6, “Resveratrol Induces Apoptosis-Like Death and Prevents In Vitro and In Vivo Virulence of Entamoeba histolytica”, in PLOS ONE, →DOI