ABSTRACT
The liver, the body’s largest solid organ, performs a substantial number of vital metabolic
functions and is the main organ for drug and xenobiotic metabolism. These functions require
an extensive aerobic metabolism to generate sufficient quantities of ATP in mitochondria.
However, this metabolic activity causes a continuous formation of reactive oxygen species
(ROS). In addition, drug metabolism and cell injury with inflammation can dramatically
increase the oxidant stress burden for each individual cell and the organ. This review will
focus on the general discussion of reactive oxygen and peroxynitrite formation, description of
antioxidant systems in different cellular and vascular compartments, and analysis of potential
adverse consequences of excessive oxidant stress in the liver.
