Antioxidants protect against cell damage through both direct and indirect quenching of free radicals.

Investigations have shown that direct antioxidant activity, as measured in the laboratory, is not necessarily a good indicator of the protective effects actually observed by consumers.

Oceanx has identified a new generation of antioxidant ingredients derived from marine extracts that can achieve potent effects at extremely low concentrations. This suggests that they may boost consumers' own antioxidant systems in a manner akin to a vaccination. Many of Aquapharm's marine micro-organisms are prolific producers of such anti-oxidant compounds which are believed to be part of a sophisticated defence mechanism that they have evolved to fend off biological and environmental attack.

A number of these novel candidates are being evaluated for potential incorporation into consumer products.