Medicinal prospects of antioxidants: A review

Abstract

Free radicals generated due to exposure of radiation, environmental pollutants and as by-products of metabolised drugs. These free radicals are antagonized by molecules which are antioxidant in nature. Antioxidants are the substances which inhibit oxidation. They are moreover acknowledged as "free radical scavengers" as they form minor reactive species via radicals. Based on origin, they are categorised into two types: exogenous and endogenous antioxidants. An Antioxidant reduces the occurrence of different disorders like: aging, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, cataract and nephrotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders. Dietary antioxidants are thought to have potential capacities to avert oxidative anxiety induced diseases. This review figures the various researches on pharmacological activity of natural along with synthetic antioxidant molecules.

Keywords: Antioxidant; Free radicals; Reactive oxygen species.