Glossary

Antioxidants

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols, ascorbic acid or polyphenols.

Collagenases

Collagenases are enzymes that break the peptide bonds in collagen.

They assist in destroying extracellular structures in pathogenesis of bacteria such as Clostridium. They are an exotoxin (a virulence factor) and help to facilitate the spread of gas gangrene. They normally target the connective tissue in muscle cells and other body organs.

Collagen, a key component of the animal extracellular matrix, is made through cleavage of pro-collagen by collagenase once it has been secreted from the cell. This stops large structures from forming inside the cell itself.

Free radical

Free radical is a chemistry term that describes an atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell configuration.  These unpaired electrons are usually highly reactive, so radicals are likely to take part in chemical reactions.

These highly reactive radicals take part in chemical reactions that damages DNA and cell structures in the skin and other organs.

Polypodium leucotomos

Polypodium leucotomos is an epiphytic fern native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is confined to the eastern side of the continents, extending north into the United States to Florida and the extreme southeast of Georgia, and south through the Caribbean (the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Lesser Antilles), and northern and eastern South America to Paraguay. It is the only species of Phlebodium found in North America, the other ten or so species all confined to South America. Other common names include Calaguala (among Spanish speaking peoples), Kalawalla, Samambia, and Anapsos.