Impact of reactive oxygen species on the progression of human diseases by damaging biomolecules

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the molecules which have oxygen an atom in its highly reactive form. ROS are formed as a byproduct of normal metabolism and are removed by the antioxidants and enzymes present in the system. But, uncontrolled formation of ROS due to various factors like diseases or stress causes damage to the biomolecules. This oxidation of biomolecules by ROS might help in the progression of human diseases. Understanding the mechanism of development of different human diseases caused due to ROS will help to control the severity of the diseases. Also, on the basis of types of ROS involved, an antioxidant supplement can be selected to mitigate the effect of ROS and ultimately lower the severity of the disease. In this review article, we have tried to summarize the literature available from different sources on ROS formation, biomolecule oxidation and their impact on the progression of various diseases in humans.