Oxidants and antioxidants in health and disease

Abstract

Gulcin Sagdicoglu Celep, Francesco Marotta

Free radicals are highly reactive chemical compounds that can be formed in biological systems as a part of regular metabolic reactions or with environmental reasons such as ultraviolet radiation and smoke. Even though they are necessary for several reactions as well as cellular defense mechanisms, they can generate oxidative stress if they exceed the antioxidant capacity of the cells. Therefore, their concentrations are strictly regulated with a variety of enzymes and antioxidant molecules as well as with our genes. Free radicals can react with many biological molecules such as proteins, lipids or nucleic acids and consequently damage the cells in a number of ways. The impact of free radical damage has been well established in many diseases including cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and aging. Dietary polyphenols make an important contribution to human health not only with their antioxidant properties but also other structural implications. Antioxidants are expected to be useful in the treatment of related degenerative diseases and also for healthy aging.