Antioxidants: Their Role in Health and Disease


	International Journal of Pharmacology
	Year: 2005 \| Volume: 1 \| Issue: 3 \| Page No.: 226-233 DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2005.226.233

Antioxidants: Their Role in Health and Disease

Sheikh Arshad Saeed, Mian Zainul Sajadeen Urfy , Talaha Mubarak Ali , , Farhad Wazirali Khimani and Anwar-ul-Hassan Gilani

Abstract: During the past few years there has been an escalation of interest in the role of antioxidants in health and disease. Antioxidants act as free radical scavengers and can thus play significant protective role in many age-related and chronic inflammatory diseases. This article reviews the role of antioxidants vitamin C, E and β-carotene in the process of ageing and diseases like coronary heart disease, Alzheimer`s disease and cancer. The phenomenon of ageing has been mystery for mankind since long. Naturally occurring antioxidants can help slow this process by preventing us from harmful effects of ageing. The diet of healthy centenarians also shows high intake of antioxidants like vitamin A, C and E. On the other hand lipid peroxidation is necessary for atheroma formation in coronary arteries leading to heart attacks. This process begins early in childhood. By taking antioxidants this process can be significantly slowed down or even terminated. Reactive oxygen species may also lead to DNA changes and gene mutations, a primary pathology behind uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Vitamin A and E reduce this stress and have been shown to decrease the risk of prostate and gastric cancers. Dementia and Alzheimer`s affects a large proportion of elderly population. These are a result of oxidative damage going on in our brain from our early life. Antioxidants also contribute in preventing these neurodegenerative processes and may improve the standard of living of the elderly.

[Fulltext PDF] [References] [View Citation] [Report Citation]

RELATED ARTICLES:

•	Neem (Azadirachta indica) Lowers Blood Pressure through a Combination of Ca⁺⁺ Channel Blocking and Endothelium-Dependent Muscarinic Receptors Activation

•	Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Potential of Seeds and Pods of Green Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

•	Variation in Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents in the Flowers and Leaves of Ghaneri (Lantana camara L.) as Affected by Different Extraction Solven

•	Ameliorating Effect of Ethanol Leaf Extract of Ficus hispida Linn. on Amyloid beta Aβ (25-35) Induced Cognitive Deficits and Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer’s Mice

How to cite this article:

Sheikh Arshad Saeed, Mian Zainul Sajadeen Urfy , Talaha Mubarak Ali , , Farhad Wazirali Khimani and Anwar-ul-Hassan Gilani , 2005. Antioxidants: Their Role in Health and Disease. International Journal of Pharmacology, 1: 226-233.

DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2005.226.233

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijp.2005.226.233

COMMENT ON THIS PAPER

	Full Name:
	E-mail:
	Comments:

Navigation


		Online First
		Current Issue
		Previous Issues
		Editorial Board
		Submit a Manuscript
		Guide to Authors
		Subscribe to E-alerts

Indexed In


		ASCI-Database
		Chemical Abstract Services
		EMBASE
		Google Scholar
		ISI Web of Knowledge
		Science Citation Index (EXP)
		SCIMAGO
		SCOPUS
		Thomson ISI