The antioxidant effect of naringin is mainly achieved through the following mechanisms:
Free radical scavenging: Naringin can scavenge free radicals in the body, including DPPH free radicals, hydroxyl free radicals (·OH) and ABTS cationic free radicals. These free radicals are the main cause of oxidative stress and cell damage. Naringin neutralizes these free radicals by donating hydrogen atoms or electrons, thereby reducing oxidative damage.
Metal ion complexing: Naringin has the property of complexing metal ions and can improve its antioxidant capacity by forming complexes with metal ions. For example, the complex formed by naringin and iron ions showed significant improvement in DPPH and TBA antioxidant experiments, which indicates that the complexation of metal ions may enhance the antioxidant activity of naringin.
Improve solubility and bioavailability: Naringin has poor solubility in water, which limits its biological activity. By forming complexes with chitosan oligosaccharides and other substances, the water solubility of naringin can be significantly improved, thereby increasing its biological activity and bioavailability. The formation of this complex may be achieved through non-covalent bonds such as hydrogen bonds or van der Waals forces, thereby improving the antioxidant capacity of naringin.
Improve structural properties: The complex formed by naringin and chitosan oligosaccharide may improve the solubility and antioxidant activity of naringin by changing its crystallinity and structural properties. Studies have shown that the formation of this complex can significantly improve the solubility and free radical scavenging rate of naringin.