REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES: A BOON OR BANE TO HUMAN HEALTH

Abstract

In recent times free radicals have remarkable significance in the field of medicine and molecular biology. Free radicals can be either harmful or helpful to the body. Where there is an imbalance between formation and removal of free radicals then a condition called as oxidative stress is developed in body. To counteract these free radicals body has protective antioxidant mechanisms which have abilities to inhibit the production of ROS by direct scavenging, decrease the amount of oxidants in and around our cells, prevent ROS from reaching their biological targets, limit the propagation of oxidants such as the one that occurs during lipid peroxidation, and prevent oxidative stress thereby preventing the aging phenomenon.