Analytical Methods for Assessing Thiol Antioxidants in Biological Fluids: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Redox metabolism, central to the glutathione system, involves thiol antioxidants and proteins.
• Thiol modifications regulate cellular signaling in inflammation and carcinogenesis.
• Analyzing thiol antioxidants in biological fluids aids in understanding disease pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review analytical methods for biothiol determination, primarily in blood plasma.
• To discuss principles, benefits, limitations, and recent advancements in spectroscopy, chromatography, electrochemistry, and mass spectrometry.
• To highlight factors affecting thiol antioxidant measurements and guide method selection.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review (2010-2024) using SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect.
• Analysis of spectrophotometric, chromatographic, electrochemical, and mass spectrometry techniques.
• Discussion of sample preparation and measurement influencing factors.

Main Results:

• Spectrophotometry offers simplicity and cost-effectiveness but lacks specificity.
• Chromatography provides excellent separation but is time-consuming.
• Electrochemistry allows real-time monitoring but faces interference issues.
• Mass spectrometry offers high sensitivity and selectivity but requires advanced equipment.

Conclusions:

• No single method is universally superior; method choice depends on research needs.
• Combining analytical techniques offers comprehensive insights into thiol antioxidant levels.
• Accurate measurement of thiol antioxidants is crucial for understanding their roles in health and disease.