Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation (ROS/LPO)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, that serve as critical signaling molecules but cause damage when produced in excess (StatPearls, 2023). Lipid peroxidation is the specific process where ROS attack polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes, initiating a self-propagating chain reaction that compromises membrane integrity (NIH, 2022). This process generates reactive aldehydes like malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which are toxic to proteins and DNA (PubMed, 2021). Pathologically, ROS and lipid peroxidation are central to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's (Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2020). Therapeutic interventions include radical scavengers like Edaravone and lipid-soluble antioxidants like Vitamin E, which aim to terminate the peroxidation chain (Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021). However, drug development is complicated by the necessity of ROS for normal physiological functions, such as immune response and cell signaling, leading to potential safety concerns regarding systemic antioxidant therapy.

Other names

Oxidative stressLipid peroxidationROS-mediated damagePeroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids

Neutralization of reactive oxygen species through electron donation, inhibition of the lipid radical chain reaction, and sequestration of catalytic metal ions to prevent hydroxyl radical formation.