Antioxidant strategies in the treatment of stroke.
Excessive production of free radicals is known to lead to cell injury in a variety of diseases, such as cerebral ischemia. In this review, we describe some of the numerous studies that have examined this oxidative stress and the efficiency of antioxidant strategies in focal cerebral ischemia. Besides using genetically modified mice, these strategies can be divided into three groups: (1) inhibition of free radical production, (2) scavenging of free radicals, and (3) increase of free radical degradation by using agents mimicking the enzymatic activity of endogenous antioxidants. Finally, the clinical trials that have tested or are currently testing the efficiency of antioxidants in patients suffering from stroke are reviewed. The results presented here lead us to consider that antioxidants are very promising drugs for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
Margaill
Isabelle
I
Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie (UPRES EA 2510), Université René Descartes, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France. isabelle.margaill@univ-paris5.fr
Plotkine
Michel
M
Lerouet
Dominique
D
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals