Reactive oxygen species and electrophilic toxins (ROS/Electrophiles)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and electrophilic toxins are highly reactive chemical entities that induce cellular damage through oxidative and electrophilic stress (NIH, 2023). ROS, such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are primarily byproducts of aerobic metabolism, while electrophilic toxins are electron-deficient molecules that can be endogenous metabolites or environmental pollutants (PubMed, 2007). While they serve as critical signaling molecules at physiological levels, their accumulation leads to the damage of DNA, proteins, and lipids, contributing to the pathogenesis of cancer, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular diseases (StatPear}

Other names

Reactive oxygen speciesElectrophilic toxinsOxidantsPro-oxidantsReactive intermediatesFree radicalsReactive electrophilic species

Drugs interact with these species through direct chemical scavenging and neutralization, enzymatic degradation of radicals (e.g., superoxide dismutase mimetics), or by activating the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway to upregulate endogenous antioxidant and phase II detoxification enzymes (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2014).