antioxidantsis a molicule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules.
source of oxidants :
1- Endogenous : e.g H2O2 ,.O2 ,.OH , NO. , .OCL
They are produced as result of respiration , viral & bacterial attacks & lipid peroxidation
2- Exogenous : polution & forigen chemicals
The oxidants can damage cells by starting chain of chemical reactions such as lipid peroxidation or by oxidizing DNA or proteins
Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates & inhibit other oxidation reactions
Low levels of antioxidants or inhibition of the antioxidants enzymes couses oxidative stree & may damage or kill cells
Oxidative stressIts the situation inside the organism in which antioxidants are used than normal
Classification of antioxidants
1. water - soluble antioxidants : react with oxidants in the cell cytoplasm & blood plasma
2. Lipid - soluble antioxidants : protect cell membranes from lipid peroxidation
These antioxidants may be synthesized in the body ( endogenous antioxidants ) or obtained from the diet ( exogenous antioxidants)
Endogenous antioxidants:
1. sureperoxide dismutases (SOD) : catalyse the breakdown of the superoxide anion into oxygen & hydrogen peroxide
SODs are present in aerobic cells & in extracellular fluids
2. Catalases are enzymes that catalyse the convertion of hydrogen peroxide to water & oxygen using either an iron or Mn cofactor
these enzymes is localized to peroxisomes in most eukaryotic cells
3. perox-redoxins are peroxidases that catalyse the reduction of hydrogen peroxide , organic hydroxides , as well as peroxynitrite
Thioredoxin & glutathione system
1. Thioredoxin
is an efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger
it is generated by the action of thioredoxin reductase using NADPH as an electron donor
2. Glutathion system
includes glutathion, glutathion reductase , glutathion peroxidases & glutathion S- transferase
a. Glutathione
is a cystien-containing peptide
synthesized in cells from its content amino acids ( cystien .glycine & glutamic acid )
glutathion has antioxidant properties through the thiol group of cystien moiety which can be reversibly oxidized & reduced
in cell , glutathion is maintained in the reduced form by enzyme glutathione raductase
its rolr to maintain the cells redox state
b. Glutathione peroxidase
its an enzyme containing selenium-cofactor that catalyze the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide & organic hydroperoxides
c. Glutathione -S-transferase
show high activity with lipid peroxides
exogenous antioxidantssin dietry suppllements
1.Ascorbic acid (VITAMIN C)
cannot be synthesized in human & must be obtained from the diet
most animals are able to produce it in their bodies
its a reducing agent for ROS such as H2O2
2. tOCOFEROLS & TOCOTRIENOLS (VITAMIN E)
IT protect memberanes from oxidation by reacting with lipid radicals produced in lipid peroxidation chain reaction



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