Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and lipid peroxidation processes (RONS and LPO)

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) encompass a variety of highly reactive molecules, such as superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, and nitric oxide, which are generated during normal metabolic processes or in response to external stressors (Source: NIH/NCBI StatPearls). Lipid peroxidation is a specific oxidative process where RONS attack polyunsaturated fatty acids in cellular membranes, initiating a self-propagating chain reaction that results in the formation of reactive aldehydes like malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) (Source: PubMed, PMID: 24903357). While physiological levels of RONS are essential for signal transduction and immune defense, an imbalance—termed oxidative or nitrosative stress—leads to significant damage to proteins, DNA, and lipids (Source: Wikipedia). This damage is a hallmark of various pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer (Source: PubMed, PMID: 30114464). Pharmacological intervention typically focuses on scavenging these reactive species or inhibiting the enzymes responsible for their production, such as NADPH oxidase, to restore redox homeostasis (Source: PubChem).

Other names

Oxidative stressNitrosative stressReactive oxygen species (ROS)Reactive nitrogen species (RNS)Lipid peroxidationRedox signaling

Neutralization of free radicals through electron donation, inhibition of ROS-generating enzymes (e.g., NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase), and termination of lipid radical chain reactions.