A Review on Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Journal Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES - Year 2018, Vol 4, Issue 2
Abstract
Free radicals are small diffusible molecules that are highly reactive because of the unpaired electron. Free radicals were initially thought to be oxygen centred radicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also include a subgroup of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and are all a product of normal cellular metabolism. Oxygen is necessary for energy production via the electron transport chain in living organisms, a mechanism by which energy (ATP) is released to enable the cell carry out its normal physiological functions. This is attributed to its high redox potential which makes it a brilliant oxidizing agent capable of easily accepting electrons from reduced substrates. This contradictory effect of oxygen in living organisms necessitated the evolution of antioxidant system to protect against over oxidation and combat reactive oxygen species (ROS). The mitochondria are the most vital source of ROS production. Just like free radicals, antioxidants can be endogenously produced and reduced glutathione and can also be introduced to the biological system exogenously, usually through diet. Antioxidants primarily function to balance out free radicals generated during metabolic processes including during mechanisms involved in protecting the gut from inflammation and injury.
Authors and Affiliations
Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi
Keywords
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- EP ID EP552763
- DOI 10.22192/ijcrms.2018.04.02.019
- Views 145
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