Journal of Global Ecology and Environment

Freshwater ecosystems face a significant challenge with the pervasive oxidative stress induced by pollution with global warming and ozone layer depletion. Amidst this concern, various companies assert their products' antioxidant properties to restore them to normal. Elevated oxygen species, identified as a pivotal contributor to heightened cardiac functionality, particularly impact crucial organisms such as Daphnia Magna within aquatic environments. This study proposes a proactive approach to mitigate oxidative stress by introducing antioxidants into water, aiming to offer insights into fortifying the health and resilience of aquatic ecosystems confronting oxidant escalation. 

The primary objective of this research was to assess the impact of commercially available "antioxidants" on the heart rates of Daphnia Magna during the recovery phase from oxidative stress.

As methods the investigation unfolds in two phases: an initial toleration study to gauge Daphnia reactions to selected chemicals, followed by a recovery study where Daphnia was exposed to the oxidizing agent H₂O₂ for 30 minutes and subsequently immersed in antioxidant solutions as well as in culturing water for a comparison purpose.   The central methodology revolves around comparing the heart rates of Daphnia exposed to H₂O₂ and analyzing their recovery in different solutions. Heart rate serves as a chosen metric due to its reliability as an indicator of stress and its non-invasive measurement, ensuring minimal harm to the organisms. A newly defined parameter, relative restoration power (RRP) as mean heartbeat %change, was estimated and compared.

Our conclusions revealed that certain antioxidants exhibit a modest yet noteworthy impact on enhancing the recovery of Daphnia magna. Consequently, the study concludes that improving antioxidant uptake or finding less intrusive delivery methods may be viable strategies to mitigate oxidative stress in Daphnia magna.