Free radicals and antioxidants in human health: current status and future prospects.

摘要: Free radicals and related species have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. They are mainly derived from oxygen (reactive species/ROS) nitrogen species/RNS), generated our body by various endogenous systems, exposure to different physicochemical conditions or pathophysiological states. can adversely alter lipids, proteins DNA been implicated aging number human diseases. Lipids highly prone free radical damage resulting lipid peroxidation that lead adverse alterations. protein result loss enzyme activity. Damage caused DNA, mutagenesis carcinogenesis. Redox signaling is major area research attracting attention. Nature has endowed us with protective antioxidant mechanisms- superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidases reductase, vitamin E (tocopherols tocotrienols), C etc., apart many dietary components. There epidemiological evidences correlating higher intake components/ foods abilities lower incidence morbidities mortalities. Current reveals the potential applications antioxidant/free manipulations prevention control disease. Natural products components such as Indian spices medicinal plants known possess Newer future approaches include gene therapy produce more antioxidants body, genetically engineered plant level antioxidants, synthetic enzymes (SOD mimics), novel biomolecules use functional enriched antioxidants.