Oxidants and antioxidants: state of the art.
Reactive oxygen species are regarded as merely pernicious. This is incorrect for they play a pivotal role in many physiologic reactions, such as cytochrome P450-mediated oxidations, regulation of the tone of smooth muscle, and killing of microorganisms. An imbalance in oxidant-antioxidant activity is involved in many free radical-mediated pathologies, e.g., ischemia-reperfusion and asthma. In an attempt to alleviate these pathologies with antioxidants, it should be noted that these compounds are neither specific nor mere antioxidants. Associated with antioxidant activity is a pro-oxidant action. In the development of new antioxidant therapies, the important question of how these drugs are incorporated in or commensurate with existing integrated physiologic radical-defense systems should be addressed.
Bast
A
A
Department of Pharmacochemistry, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Haenen
G R
GR
Doelman
C J
CJ
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology; D008967:Molecular Biology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000506:poisoning*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D016877:Oxidants