Biological oxidants and antioxidants

Abstract

The generation of reactive oxygen species, such as the supcroxideanionradical and hydroxyl radical, is known to lead to a variety of pathological conditions. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, Eand antioxidant enzymes are known to prevent the deleterious elfects of these toxic radicals. THe role of free radicals in disease may be most familiar to readers of the literature on postischacmic organ reperfusion injury. However, recent studies have shown that these radicals may also play a role in the ageing process, artherosclerosis, carcinogenesisa and even Diabetes mellitus