Biochemistry · Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Free radical injury and antioxidant defence

7 min read

Quick Orientation

Section

Definition

Objective
Understand the core idea
Keywords
Free radical, O2•−, •OH

Types and Sources of Free Radicals

Objective
Separate the major categories
Keywords
superoxide (O2•−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH)

Lipid Peroxidation

Objective
Learn the main facts and relationships
Keywords
initiation, propagation, termination, L•, LOO•

Free Radicals and Biomolecules

Objective
Learn the main facts and relationships
Keywords
beget free radicals

Antioxidant Enzyme System

Objective
Learn the main facts and relationships
Keywords
Antioxidant Enzyme System

Clinical Correlation

Objective
Connect the mechanism to clinical findings
Keywords
Atherosclerosis and CHD, Cancer, Rheumatoid arthritis

Definition

Free radical: a molecular species with one or more unpaired electrons that can exist independently, for example superoxide O2•− and hydroxyl radical •OH.