Biomarker potential of total antioxidant capacity in pesticide toxicology: a scoping review

Background and Aim: Pesticide exposure induces oxidative stress in biological systems, which decreases the body’s antioxidant defence. Among various antioxidant biomarkers, the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) provides an integrative measure of overall antioxidant status. This review synthesizes evidence to critically evaluate the responsiveness of TAC in organisms exposed to pesticides.Experimental Approach This review included case-control experiments, dose-response trials, and investigations involving occupational exposure case studies identified through a systematic literature search.Key Findings The declining levels of TAC are invariably associated with pesticide exposure, irrespective of its chemical nature, in most of the studies. Among several methods, the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay emerged as the frequently applied assay, presenting a relatively consistent response across the cases.Conclusion The consistent decline in TAC levels reported in most published case studies has demonstrated TAC to be a potent biomarker of exposure for assessing oxidative stress caused by pesticides.