ABSTRACT
Reactive oxygen species and free radicals attack cells and lipoproteins to induce the oxidation of lipids, proteins, sugars, and DNA, which results in membrane damage, protein modification, enzyme deactivation, DNA strand breaks, and base modification. Some proceed by nonradical mechanisms but many of them proceed by a free radicalmediated chain mechanism. Aerobic organisms are protected against such oxidative stress by an array of defense systems. We have been studying the oxidative damage of biological molecules, membranes, lipoproteins, and cells induced by reactive oxygen species and free radicals and its inhibition by antioxidants from basic chemical and biochemical points of view.
