Free radicals and their impact on health and antioxidant defenses: a review.

IF 6.1 2区生物学 Q1 CELL BIOLOGY Cell Death Discovery Pub Date : 2025-01-24 DOI:10.1038/s41420-024-02278-8

Nisansala Chandimali, Seon Gyeong Bak, Eun Hyun Park, Hyung-Jin Lim, Yeong-Seon Won, Eun-Kyung Kim, Sang-Ik Park, Seung Jae Lee

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Abstract

Free radicals, characterized by the presence of unpaired electrons, are highly reactive species that play a significant role in human health. These molecules can be generated through various endogenous processes, such as mitochondrial respiration and immune cell activation, as well as exogenous sources, including radiation, pollution, and smoking. While free radicals are essential for certain physiological processes, such as cell signaling and immune defense, their overproduction can disrupt the delicate balance between oxidants and antioxidants, leading to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress results in the damage of critical biomolecules like DNA, proteins, and lipids, contributing to the pathogenesis of various diseases. Chronic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and inflammatory diseases have been strongly associated with the harmful effects of free radicals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the characteristics and types of free radicals, their mechanisms of formation, and biological impacts. Additionally, we explore natural compounds and extracts studied for their antioxidant properties, offering potential therapeutic avenues for managing free radical-induced damage. Future research directions are also discussed to advance our understanding and treatment of free radical-associated diseases.

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来源期刊

Cell Death Discovery Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Cell Biology

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

1.40%

发文量

468

审稿时长

9 weeks

期刊介绍： Cell Death Discovery is a multidisciplinary, international, online-only, open access journal, dedicated to publishing research at the intersection of medicine with biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, cell biology and cell death, provided it is scientifically sound. The unrestricted access to research findings in Cell Death Discovery will foster a dynamic and highly productive dialogue between basic scientists and clinicians, as well as researchers in industry with a focus on cancer, neurobiology and inflammation research. As an official journal of the Cell Death Differentiation Association (ADMC), Cell Death Discovery will build upon the success of Cell Death & Differentiation and Cell Death & Disease in publishing important peer-reviewed original research, timely reviews and editorial commentary. Cell Death Discovery is committed to increasing the reproducibility of research. To this end, in conjunction with its sister journals Cell Death & Differentiation and Cell Death & Disease, Cell Death Discovery provides a unique forum for scientists as well as clinicians and members of the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industry. It is committed to the rapid publication of high quality original papers that relate to these subjects, together with topical, usually solicited, reviews, editorial correspondence and occasional commentaries on controversial and scientifically informative issues.