Antioxidant properties of indigenous plant species of Newfoundland and Labrador

This research aims at study antioxidant properties of berry plant species native to Newfoundland and Labrador. Antioxidants are compounds which are required to alleviate the harmful effects of free radicals. If the level of free radicals is high in body, they can damage proteins, lipids, DNA, and other biochemical in our body. Skin is prone to the harmful effects of free radicals because it is exposed to UV, smoke, chemicals, etc and hence require antioxidants to protect its structure. Berry plants are rich sources of wide variety of antioxidants. Furthermore, research has also shown that plants which thrive on harsh conditions have higher level of antioxidants. Therefore, we chose to study berry species of Newfoundland and Labrador to utilize their antioxidant efficiency and we expect high antioxidant levels in these indigenous plants.

The results from the study will enable the company in developing a range of cosmeceutical formulation prototypes using the plants showing high antioxidant levels. These results will also help company in product claim substantiation in the highly competitive cosmetic market.