A deeper insight into the oxidative mechanism of caffeine and related xanthines: may caffeine be considered as an antioxidant?
Caffeine (CAF) is present in many consumer products as coffee, tea, chocolate, soft and energy drinks, resulting the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in human dietary. Many of its physiological effects are well known. Recently, antioxidant properties have been suggested for CAF that seems showing protective effects against oxidative stress (OS).Inert to hydrogen (H)/electron (E) scavengers as ABTS·+ and DPPH, CAF has been proposed as an excellent HO· scavenger.