Free radicals and antioxidant systems in health and disease.

Abstract

Free radical (FR) mechanisms have both beneficial and deleterious actions in vivo. Intensive scientific interest in FRs over the last 20 years has led to a clearer understanding of their roles and helped to clarify the contribution of our intrinsic defence systems (antioxidants) in limiting FR-induced tissue damage. As more and more conditions are shown to have a FR aetiology it becomes imperative to develop newer therapies to prevent and treat FR-induced disease.