Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) (RONS)

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are a diverse group of highly reactive, oxygen- and nitrogen-containing molecules that include both free radicals, such as superoxide and nitric oxide, and non-radical oxidants like hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite [3, 11]. They are primarily generated as byproducts of mitochondrial aerobic metabolism and by specialized enzymes like NADPH oxidases during the immune system's oxidative burst [4, 10]. At physiological levels, RONS serve as essential secondary messengers in redox signaling pathways that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis [2, 11]. However, an imbalance between RONS production and the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms leads to oxidative and nitrosative stress, causing irreversible damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids [1, 6]. This molecular damage is a key driver in the pathogenesis of various conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), cardiovascular disorders, and cancer [5, 11]. Therapeutic interventions focus on neutralizing these species using radical scavengers like Edaravone, which inhibits lipid peroxidation and protects cellular membranes, or by supplementing endogenous antioxidant systems with agents like N-acetylcysteine [5, 7, 13].

Other names

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen radical speciesROS/RNSFree radicalsOxidantsReactive oxygen speciesReactive nitrogen speciesPro-oxidants

Drugs targeting these species primarily act through direct free radical scavenging, neutralization of non-radical oxidants, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and the upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes to restore redox balance [5, 7, 12].