ABSTRACT
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18.1 Introduction Antioxidants evolved together with the emergence of photosynthesis by cyanobacteria, more than 2 billion years ago, as a defense against oxygen toxicity.1 Indeed cyanobacteria and the laterevolved green plants, being exposed to the oxygen they produce, are rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, polyphenols, and carotenoids. Humans and most animals cannot synthesize the majority of these antioxidants and depend on the dietary intake from plant consumption. is is also followed in the marine environment, where antioxidants are mainly produced by photosynthetic organisms and are consequently transported through the trophic web.
