Oxidative stress in the cellular environment results in the formation of highly reactive and combustible lipid hydroperoxides. The decomposition of unstable peroxides produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids generates malondialdehyde (MDA), which may be quantified colorimetrically following a controlled reaction with thiobarbituric acid.
The TBARS method has been applied to a variety of samples, including human and animal tissues and fluids, pharmaceuticals, foods, and natural substances. This assay's sensitivity in detecting lipid peroxidation has made it the preferred method for screening and monitoring oxidative stress because of its high sensitivity in measuring Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances.
This assay is based on the reaction of malondialdehyde (MDA) with thiobarbituric acid (TBA) to form a pink chromogen, which can be detected spectrophotometrically at 532 nm using a platereader.