HORAC is the measure of Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging and the scores are expressed as  moles CAE/L. The Hydroxyl Radical is the most dangerous of all free radical species. Cantron ASV has the highest scores than

all versions, variations and other known hydroxyl scavenging compounds, followed by Cantron New Millennium Version.

ORAC VALUES OF VARIOUS ANTIOXIDANT JUICES AND LIQUID CANTRON (ORAC VALUE PER LITER)

In the most simplistic terms, the role of antioxidants is to interact with free radicals and “quench” them or render them harmless. Researchers believe that increased dietary intake of antioxidants can slow the process of free radical damage and associated disorders. By removing free radicals, antioxidants help to: protect against DNA damage in cells, protect cell membranes, protect against all forms of cancer, protect the brain against various forms of dementia, protect against the harmful cross-linking of proteins with sugars that cause cell damage and may help slow the aging process. Antioxidants have been shown to provide: blood vessel strength and protection, enhanced memory and learning function, healthy lung function, bone and joint flexibility.

According to the National Cancer Institute, “Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. The antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals otherwise might cause. Considerable laboratory evidence from chemical, cell culture, and animal studies indicate that antioxidants may slow or possibly prevent the development of cancer. Antioxidants are often described as “mopping up” free radicals, meaning they neutralize the electrical charge and prevent the free radical from taking electrons from other molecules.”

US Federal Courts have recently instructed the FDA to allow the claim that antioxidants may prevent cancer (Whitaker vs. Thompson {2002}, Pearson vs. Shalala {1999} and Pearson vs. Shalala 2 {2001}). These landmark rulings benefit the general public, which now has access to this extremely important health information that may help millions of people reduce the risk of this dreaded disease and live longer as a result of using antioxidants in their diet.

Two principal mechanisms of action have been proposed for antioxidants, first is stabilizing free radical present in the system, and the second mechanism involves the removal of chain initiating catalysts. Furthermore, antioxidants can act by scavenging biologically important reactive oxygen species, by preventing their formation, or by repairing the damage that they do. Antioxidants can suppress apoptosis (programmed cell death), act as reducing agents, chelate metal compounds and affect directly or indirectly the expression of genes in tissues. A diet high in antioxidants may even bolster the body’s own defenses against biological invaders transmitted by germ warfare, mosquitoes or other delivery methods.

The body’s arsenal of antioxidants appear to be sufficient for keeping oxidation in check in children and in youths, but once we reach our 20’s, the effectiveness of the body’s antioxidants defense mechanisms lessen and free radicals are given greater rein to do damage. For example, the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase, appears to diminish with age and the antioxidant capacity in human plasma decreases. While the body’s antioxidant defenses are reduced, the number of free radicals in the body rises dramatically. Studies also show that cells from old individuals are more susceptible to oxidative damage than cells from younger donors and that some of this damage can actually be prevented by antioxidants.

Researchers found that cancer patients with small cell lung cancer who used antioxidants showed increased long-term survival rates as compared with previously published studies. It was also noticed that patients receiving antioxidants were able to tolerate chemotherapy and radiation treatment well. It was concluded that antioxidant treatment could potentiate orthodox cancer treatments by decreasing the likelihood of side effects and increasing the host immune defense. Ralph Moss, PhD, author of the bestselling book, “The Cancer Industry,” former assistant director of public affairs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and producer for several documentaries, including, “The Cancer War,” stated in his newsletter of 8/17/2003; “I would argue that the preponderance of evidence already suggests that antioxidants reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, without, however, interfering with their effectiveness.

As the body’s own antioxidant defenses are gradually overwhelmed by the aging process or disease or both, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and concentrated dietary supplements should be consumed as they contain the largest amounts of antioxidants to help replenish and augment the system.

Peroxyl radicals are the most abundant free radicals in the human body and have been suggested as a major cause of atherosclerosis, cancer, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, hearing loss and the aging process. There are two types: water-soluble and lipid (fat) – soluble.

Free radicals attack all major classes of bio-molecules, but lipids are the most susceptible and the easiest to damage. The peroxyl radical species is reasonably stable and not very reactive but they are reactive enough, however, to attack adjacent fatty acid side chains, as well as enzymes, receptors, and other structures found in cell membranes. The cell membrane is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are easily attacked by oxidizing radicals including the peroxyl radical. The destruction of polyunsaturated fats causes damage by unleashing a chain reaction of chemical events that can collapse cell membranes. Once one peroxyl free radical forms and an appropriate antioxidant is not available to stop the process, the chain of events keeps occurring until the cell membrane literally collapses. As the cellular membrane becomes compromised, the cell bursts open, spews its contents and dies. This series of damaging breaks in the cellular membrane can be prevented by antioxidant defenses and the cells can remain intact. However, it has been demonstrated that total peroxyl radical scavenging antioxidant capacity (TRAP) in human plasma decreases with age.

Peroxyls are formed by several routes especially during the breakdown of organic peroxides, oxidation of lipids or other organic molecules in oxidative stress. They are formed within the delicate cellular membrane. If a free radical within or on the outside of a cell attacks the fatty acid cell membrane structures, they create peroxyl free radicals. These radicals are also formed as a byproduct of the clash between hydroxyl radicals and polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from vegetable oils.

Of all the reactive oxygen species (ROS), the hydroxyl reactive oxygen species is the most reactive. It is, in fact, the most reactive radical known to chemistry and the most physiologically harmful, being suspected in such pathologies as atherosclerosis, oncogenesis, cataractulargenesis and DNA mutation.

These dangerous radicals can attack and damage almost every molecule found in living cells because they react as soon as they come in contact with another molecule. Since it is so reactive, hydroxyl radicals generated in vivo do not persist for even a microsecond as they rapidly combine with molecules in their immediate vicinity as fast as they collide. Hydroxyl radicals can be produced at an enormous rate, have easy access to every portion of the cell, are capable of causing great damage within a small radius of their site of production and are highly carcinogenic. In addition to damaging unsaturated fats in cell membranes, hydroxyls are reactive enough, aggressive enough, and persist long enough to damage the less susceptible proteins (including the fragmentation of vital proteins in plasma), nuclear acids, enzymes and carbohydrates.

Russell Reiter, PhD, professor of neuroendocrinology at University of Texas Health Center has highlighted the dangers of the hydroxyl radical; “If the function of radicals is to destroy molecules and tissues, then the hydroxyl radical would be the radical’s radical. It reacts at diffusion rates with virtually any molecule found in its path including macromolecules such as DNA, membrane lipids, proteins and carbohydrates.  In terms of DNA, the hydroxyl radical can induce strand breaks as well as chemical changes in the dioxyribose and in the purine and pyrirnidine bases. Damaged proteins, many of them crucial enzymes in neurons lose their efficiency and cellular function wanes. Protein oxidation in many tissues, including the brain, has been proposed as an explanation for the functional deficits associating with aging.”

In addition to the direct damage caused by hydroxyls, they play a major role in forming peroxyl radicals and stimulating the free radical chain reaction known as lipid peroxidation. Peroxyl radicals are formed when oxygen combines with the hydrogen radical. One hydroxyl radical can result in the conversion of many hundred fatty acids side chains into lipid hydroperoxides. As hydroxyl radicals react with carbohydrates it leads to chain breaks in important molecules in a process involving the peroxyl radical as an intermediate. Since hydroxyls do such direct damage, work in conjunction with and create harmful peroxyl radicals, then supplementation of hydroxyl scavenging antioxidants may be extremely important.

* It is a well-established fact that free radicals have been implicated in over 50 degenerative diseases including heart disease, cancer and aging.

* Consumption of antioxidants may eradicate dangerous free radicals and help prevent disease.

* The federal court has forced the FDA to allow the claim that antioxidants may prevent cancer.

* The body’s storehouse of antioxidants diminish with age and leads to the onset of disease and premature aging.

* There are many forms of free radicals. Peroxyl radicals are the most abundant, hydroxyl radicals are the most dangerous, peroxynitrite attacks proteins, and superoxide anions are the greatest

initiator of other dangerous free radicals.

* One free radical engenders many other free radicals, causing a chain reaction of biological events. 

* Cantron® is not only the most potent antioxidant known to man, but works against a number of radicals that are responsible for multitudes of diseases in men.

* To obtain the equivalent antioxidant protection of just one daily dose of Cantron® (1 ½ teaspoons or 6 capsules), one would have to consume megadoses of vitamin C or E for it peroxyl

scavenging activities, many cups of concentrated green tea with 95% polyphenols for its hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, megadoses of alpha-lipoic acid for its peroxynitrite scavenging

ability and mega-doses of superoxide dismutase and/or catalase tablets for its superoxide scavenging ability.

* Supplementation of antioxidants, along with a healthy diet of antioxidant foods and beverages should be exercised by anyone who values good health or who is seeking “Wellness.” A wide

variety of antioxidant substances are recommended in our “Cantron® Total Wellness Program” and our “Cantron® Total Wellness Diet.”