Reactive Oxygen Species & Lipid Peroxidation Products

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a group of highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules (including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and singlet oxygen) formed as natural byproducts of oxygen metabolism or due to environmental stress[6]. At low or moderate concentrations, ROS are involved in cell signaling and defense mechanisms, but at high concentrations they cause oxidative damage to cellular components, notably lipid membranes. Lipid peroxidation refers to the oxidative degradation of polyunsaturated lipid molecules by ROS, leading to radical chain reactions and the formation of lipid peroxides and numerous secondary products, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)[1][2][3][4][5]. These products are cytotoxic and contribute to cell injury, cell death (such as apoptosis and ferroptosis), inflammation, and the pathogenesis of multiple diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular conditions. While antioxidants and ferroptosis inhibitors are used experimentally to modulate this chemistry, "Reactive Oxygen Species & Lipid Peroxidation Products" do not define a single molecular drug target but are rather umbrella terms for groups of reactive molecules/processes involved in both physiology and disease.

Other names

Reactive oxygen intermediatesROS (for reactive oxygen species)Lipid hydroperoxidesLipid peroxidesLipid oxidation products (LOPs)Lipid peroxidation-derived aldehydes (e.g., MDA, 4-HNE)

Scavenging of free radicals (antioxidants neutralize ROS) - Chelation of redox-active metals (reduces ROS formation) - Inhibition of lipid peroxidation chain reactions - Upregulation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase)