title: Pharmacology of free radicals; recent views on their relation to inflammatory mechanisms.
abstract: Production of free radicals from molecular oxygen during the inflammatory process can exhibit beneficial effects against the phlogistic stimulus and may act as a defence mechanism. Nevertheless, in many cases this production is associated with toxic reactions related to inflammatory response. Many compounds including bovine superoxide dismutase, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, radical scavengers (e.g. acetaminophen), corticoids etc., have been shown to counteract this phenomenon. Their beneficial effects and mechanism of action are reviewed.
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D011453:Prostaglandins; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D000082:Acetaminophen; C013753:2-aminomethyl-4-t-butyl-6-iodophenol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010100:Oxygen