Electrochemical Biosensors for Antioxidants

Abstract Antioxidants are very popular worldwide. The capacity of these substances to reduce cell damage is turning into a synonym of good health and increasing the average life expectancy. In fact, it has been demonstrated that daily consumption of foodstuffs rich in antioxidants may decrease the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and others. That is why antioxidant-around culture is spreading among consumers. Over the past few decades, various methodologies have been developed to attempt relating the antioxidant capacity of substances present in plants, foodstuffs, and beverages to healthcare. This chapter focuses on the most recent applications of electrochemical biosensors for three essential aspects: (1) the determination of reactive oxygen species; (2) the assessment of total antioxidant capacity of plants; and (3) the analysis of polyphenols in the most internationally popular beverages. A discussion on these topics and the relationships between antioxidants and healthcare is provided in this chapter.