Department of Biotechnology, M. J. College, M. J. Road, Jalgaon- 425 001, India.
Curr Neuropharmacol. 2009 Mar;7(1):65-74. doi: 10.2174/157015909787602823.
Free radicals are common outcome of normal aerobic cellular metabolism. In-built antioxidant system of body plays its decisive role in prevention of any loss due to free radicals. However, imbalanced defense mechanism of antioxidants, overproduction or incorporation of free radicals from environment to living system leads to serious penalty leading to neuro-degeneration. Neural cells suffer functional or sensory loss in neurodegenerative diseases. Apart from several other environmental or genetic factors, oxidative stress (OS) leading to free radical attack on neural cells contributes calamitous role to neuro-degeneration. Though, oxygen is imperative for life, imbalanced metabolism and excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation end into a range of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, aging and many other neural disorders. Toxicity of free radicals contributes to proteins and DNA injury, inflammation, tissue damage and subsequent cellular apoptosis. Antioxidants are now being looked upon as persuasive therapeutic against solemn neuronal loss, as they have capability to combat by neutralizing free radicals. Diet is major source of antioxidants, as well as medicinal herbs are catching attention to be commercial source of antioxidants at present. Recognition of upstream and downstream antioxidant therapy to oxidative stress has been proved an effective tool in alteration of any neuronal damage as well as free radical scavenging. Antioxidants have a wide scope to sequester metal ions involved in neuronal plaque formation to prevent oxidative stress. In addition, antioxidant therapy is vital in scavenging free radicals and ROS preventing neuronal degeneration in post-oxidative stress scenario.
自由基是正常需氧细胞代谢的常见产物。体内的内源性抗氧化系统在防止任何自由基损失方面起着决定性的作用。然而，抗氧化剂的防御机制失衡、自由基的过度产生或从环境中掺入到生命系统中，会导致严重的损失，导致神经退化。神经细胞在神经退行性疾病中会遭受功能或感觉丧失。除了其他一些环境或遗传因素外，导致自由基攻击神经细胞的氧化应激（OS）也对神经退化起到灾难性的作用。虽然氧气是生命所必需的，但代谢失衡和过量的活性氧（ROS）生成会导致一系列疾病，如阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病、衰老和许多其他神经疾病。自由基的毒性导致蛋白质和 DNA 损伤、炎症、组织损伤和随后的细胞凋亡。抗氧化剂现在被视为对抗严重神经元损失的有效治疗方法，因为它们具有通过中和自由基来对抗的能力。饮食是抗氧化剂的主要来源，药用植物也引起了人们的关注，成为目前抗氧化剂的商业来源。对氧化应激的上游和下游抗氧化治疗的认识已被证明是改变任何神经元损伤和清除自由基的有效工具。抗氧化剂具有广泛的范围来隔离参与神经元斑块形成的金属离子，以防止氧化应激。此外，抗氧化剂治疗在清除自由基和 ROS 方面对于防止氧化应激后的神经元退化至关重要。
