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Review
. 2023 May 10:11:1158198.
doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1158198. eCollection 2023.

Oxidative stress, free radicals and antioxidants: potential crosstalk in the pathophysiology of human diseases

Priya Chaudhary  1 , Pracheta Janmeda  1 , Anca Oana Docea  2 , Balakyz Yeskaliyeva  3 , Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis  4   5 , Babagana Modu  5   6 , Daniela Calina  7 , Javad Sharifi-Rad  8
Affiliations
Review

Oxidative stress, free radicals and antioxidants: potential crosstalk in the pathophysiology of human diseases

Priya Chaudhary et al. Front Chem. .

Abstract

Introduction: Free radicals are reactive oxygen species that constantly circulate through the body and occur as a side effect of many reactions that take place in the human body. Under normal conditions, they are removed from the body by antioxidant processes. If these natural mechanisms are disrupted, radicals accumulate in excess and contribute to the development of many diseases. Methodology: Relevant recent information on oxidative stress, free radicals, reactive oxidative species, and natural and synthetic antioxidants was collected by researching electronic databases such as PubMed / Medline, Web of Science, and Science Direct. Results: According to the analysed studies, this comprehensive review provided a recent update on oxidative stress, free radicals and antioxidants and their impact on the pathophysiology of human diseases. Discussion: To counteract the condition of oxidative stress, synthetic antioxidants must be provided from external sources to supplement the antioxidant defense mechanism internally. Because of their therapeutic potential and natural origin, medicinal plants have been reported as the main source of natural antioxidants phytocompounds. Some non-enzymatic phytocompounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and glutathione, along with some vitamins have been reported to possess strong antioxidant activities in vivo and in vitro studies. Thus, the present review describes, in brief, the overview of oxidative stress-directed cellular damage and the unction of dietary antioxidants in the management of different diseases. The therapeutic limitations in correlating the antioxidant activity of foods to human health were also discussed.

Keywords: antioxidants; chronic diseases; free radicals; oxidative stress; pathophysiology; phytochemicals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Illustrative scheme regarding the correlation between chronic inflammation and cancer mechanisms. Abbreviations and symbols: ↑increase, ↓decrease, ROS (reactive oxidative species), NO (nitric oxide), NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Angiogenesis through the activation of reactive oxygen species. Abbreviations and symbols: ↑ increased, ↓ decreased, ROS reactive oxygen species, TLR Toll-like receptors, VEGFR Vascular endothelial growth factors, NF-kβ nuclear factor kappa B, MAPK mitogen-activated protein kinase, HIF-1α (Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Highlights the impact of ROS in chronic diseases: liver, renal and kidney. Abbreviations and symbols: ↑ (increased), ↓ (decreased), ROS (reactive oxidative species), XDO (xanthine dehydrogenase), XO (xanthine oxidase), DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Summarized scheme regarding ROS generation at the mitochondrial level.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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