A Review of Oxidative Stress essays

A Review of Oxidative Stress essays A Review of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants Oxidants such as super oxide, a free radical form of oxygen gas, hydrogen peroxide, and free radical hydroxide are molecules that can commence chain reactions in a cell and cause damage along the way. A free radical is any molecule with an unpaired electron that has only one electron left in a binding site. These radicals are formed by homolysis of a covalent bond (Solomon 431). When an oxidant is unchecked in a cell it can alter many different types of molecules such as DNA and other nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. These molecules are changed so that they contain the free radical and are permanently damaged. These damages can lead to many different types of complications in the body, all culminating in aging. Cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers Disease, and even cataracts can be caused by oxidation due to do free radicals. Antioxidants, by their name, have the ability to neutralize the damaging oxidants that are in the body. There are many antioxidants, some of which are well known like Vitamin C and E, and other that are not like polyphenols. There is significant research being done with antioxidants, testing their ability to reduce the symptoms of aging. Although all of the oxidants that occur in the cell cannot be traced back to a source, most come from four different natural mechanisms. The first is due to common cellular respiration. When oxygen gas is consumed it is reduced to form water. About 2% of this process goes awry and one of the three previously mentioned oxidants are formed as partially reduced oxygen leaks out of the reaction. The second type of oxidant formation is also a natural use. When the immune systems phagocytic cells attack a bodily disturbance, they destroy these diseased cells by an oxidative burst of nitric oxide. This can be dangerous under conditions where persistent infection occurs and the phagocyto...