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Method Article

Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances Assay to Assess Oxidative Stress in Human Serum

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July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

Source: Borges, C. R. et al., Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Biological Samples Using the Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Assay. J. Vis. Exp. (2020)

This video demonstrates the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay to assess oxidative stress in biological samples.

Protocol

All procedures involving human participants have been performed in compliance with the institutional, national, and international guidelines for human welfare and have been reviewed by the local institutional review board

1. TBARS assay

NOTE: Once the TBARS assay is started, it should be finished without stopping.

  1. Take as many samples and standards centrifuged at 1500 x g for 10 min at 4 °C. After centrifugation, keep the glass tubes containing the samples and standards at RT. glass tubes as needed for the number of samples to be analyzed and label them with the names of....

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Disclosures

No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
1x Sterile PBS pH 7.4 1 LVWR, PA101642--262Cell lysis reagent
50 mL self-standing centrifuge tubeCorning, NYCLS430897General material
96 well plate, Non-Treated, clear, with lid, Non-sterileThermo Fisher Scientific, MA280895To measure absorbance
Amicon Ultra-0.5 100 kD centrifugal spin filter deviceFisher Scientific, NHUFC510024LDL purification
Caps for glass tubesThermo Fisher Scientific, MA14-930-15DFor TBARS assay
Copper II ChlorideSIGMA, MO222011-250GTo induce oxidation
Culture tubes, Disposable, with Screw-Cap Finish, Borosilicate Glass (13 x 100 mm)VWR, PA53283-800For TBARS assay
Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium (EMEM)ATCC, VAHB-8065HepG2 cell media
Eppendorf Safe-Lock Tubes, 1.5 mLeppendorf, NY22363204General material
Eppendorf Safe-Lock Tubes, 2.0 mLGenesee Sceitific, CA22363352General material
Fetal Bovine Serum US SourceOmega Scientific, CAFB-11For cell culture
Glacial Acetic AcidSIGMA, MO27225-1L-RTBARS Reagent
Halt Protease Inhibitor Cocktail (100x)Thermo Scientific, MA87786Cell lysis reagent
HEPESSIGMA, MOH3375-250GLDL solvent
Hydrochloric acid (HCl)Fisher Scientific, NHA144-212Cell lysis reagent
Legend Micro 17 CentrifugeThermo Scientific, MA75002431General material
Low Density Lipoprotein, Human PlasmaAthens Research & Technology, GA12-16-120412Biological matrix prototype
Magnetic Stir Bars, Octagon 6-AssortmentVWR, PA58948-025General material
Malondialdehyde bis (dimethyl acetal)SIGMA, MO8207560250TBARS Standard
Multiskan Go Microplate SpectrophotometerFisher Scientific, NH51119200To measure absorbance
NP-40EMD Millipore Corp, MA492016-100MLCell lysis reagent
Sodium ChlorideSIGMA, MOS7653-1KGCell lysis reagent
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)SIGMA, MO436143-100GTBARS Reagent
Sodium hydroxideSIGMA, MO367176-2.5KGTBARS Reagent
SpeedVac ConcentratorThermo Scientific, MASC250EXPFor concentrating cell lysates
Thiobarbituric AcidSIGMA, MOT5500-100GTBARS Reagent
TRIS baseFluka, GA93362Cell lysis reagent

Tags

Oxidative Stress AssayLipid Peroxidation DetectionMalondialdehyde MeasurementTBARS Assay ProtocolSodium Dodecyl SulfateThiobarbituric Acid ReactionMicroplate Reader AbsorbanceSerum Oxidative StressLipid Hydroperoxides Analysis