Biomaterial Database

Mechanisms involved in the generation of free radicals. 1996

B Halliwell

Pharmacology Group, University of London King's College.

Free radicals are constantly formed in the human body, both by "accidents of chemistry" and for useful metabolic purposes. Their action is opposed by a balanced and co-ordinated system of antioxidant defences. Upsetting this balance causes oxidative stress, which can lead to cell injury and death.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006861	Hydrogen Peroxide	A strong oxidizing agent used in aqueous solution as a ripening agent, bleach, and topical anti-infective. It is relatively unstable and solutions deteriorate over time unless stabilized by the addition of acetanilide or similar organic materials.	Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2),Hydroperoxide,Oxydol,Perhydrol,Superoxol,Peroxide, Hydrogen
D013481	Superoxides	Highly reactive compounds produced when oxygen is reduced by a single electron. In biological systems, they may be generated during the normal catalytic function of a number of enzymes and during the oxidation of hemoglobin to METHEMOGLOBIN. In living organisms, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE protects the cell from the deleterious effects of superoxides.	Superoxide Radical,Superoxide,Superoxide Anion
D013482	Superoxide Dismutase	An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the reaction between SUPEROXIDES and hydrogen to yield molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme protects the cell against dangerous levels of superoxide.	Hemocuprein,Ag-Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Cobalt Superoxide Dismutase,Cu-Superoxide Dismutase,Erythrocuprein,Fe-Superoxide Dismutase,Fe-Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Iron Superoxide Dismutase,Manganese Superoxide Dismutase,Mn-SOD,Mn-Superoxide Dismutase,Ag Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Cu Superoxide Dismutase,Dismutase, Ag-Zn Superoxide,Dismutase, Cobalt Superoxide,Dismutase, Cu-Superoxide,Dismutase, Fe-Superoxide,Dismutase, Fe-Zn Superoxide,Dismutase, Iron Superoxide,Dismutase, Manganese Superoxide,Dismutase, Mn-Superoxide,Dismutase, Superoxide,Fe Superoxide Dismutase,Fe Zn Superoxide Dismutase,Mn SOD,Mn Superoxide Dismutase,Superoxide Dismutase, Ag-Zn,Superoxide Dismutase, Cobalt,Superoxide Dismutase, Fe-Zn,Superoxide Dismutase, Iron,Superoxide Dismutase, Manganese
D016877	Oxidants	Electron-accepting molecules in chemical reactions in which electrons are transferred from one molecule to another (OXIDATION-REDUCTION).	Oxidant,Oxidizing Agent,Oxidizing Agents,Agent, Oxidizing,Agents, Oxidizing
D017665	Hydroxyl Radical	The univalent radical OH. Hydroxyl radical is a potent oxidizing agent.
D018384	Oxidative Stress	A disturbance in the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in favor of the former, leading to potential damage. Indicators of oxidative stress include damaged DNA bases, protein oxidation products, and lipid peroxidation products (Sies, Oxidative Stress, 1991, pxv-xvi).	Anti-oxidative Stress,Antioxidative Stress,DNA Oxidative Damage,Nitro-Oxidative Stress,Oxidative Cleavage,Oxidative DNA Damage,Oxidative Damage,Oxidative Injury,Oxidative Nitrative Stress,Oxidative Stress Injury,Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress,Stress, Oxidative,Anti oxidative Stress,Anti-oxidative Stresses,Antioxidative Stresses,Cleavage, Oxidative,DNA Damage, Oxidative,DNA Oxidative Damages,Damage, DNA Oxidative,Damage, Oxidative,Damage, Oxidative DNA,Injury, Oxidative,Injury, Oxidative Stress,Nitrative Stress, Oxidative,Nitro Oxidative Stress,Nitro-Oxidative Stresses,Oxidative Cleavages,Oxidative DNA Damages,Oxidative Damage, DNA,Oxidative Damages,Oxidative Injuries,Oxidative Nitrative Stresses,Oxidative Stress Injuries,Oxidative Stresses,Stress Injury, Oxidative,Stress, Anti-oxidative,Stress, Antioxidative,Stress, Nitro-Oxidative,Stress, Oxidative Nitrative,Stresses, Nitro-Oxidative