Reactive oxygen species and redox-active substrates (ROS)

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and redox-active substrates are a group of highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules, including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the hydroxyl radical, which are generated as natural byproducts of cellular metabolism (Sies et al., 2017). At physiological levels, they function as vital signaling molecules in processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and the immune response (Pizzino et al., 2017). However, excessive accumulation leads to oxidative stress, which causes irreversible damage to cellular components like DNA, lipids, and proteins, contributing to the pathogenesis of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration (Frijhoff et al., 2015). Pharmacological intervention typically involves the use of antioxidant scavengers or redox-modulating agents designed to neutralize these species or enhance endogenous antioxidant capacity (DrugBank Online, 2024). While targeting ROS has therapeutic potential, challenges include maintaining the delicate balance of redox signaling and avoiding the disruption of essential physiological functions such as the oxidative burst in phagocytes (Sies et al., 2017).

Other names

Free radicalsOxidantsReactive oxygen intermediatesROIRedox-active molecules

Drugs targeting these species typically act through direct chemical scavenging, where the drug molecule reacts with and neutralizes the reactive species, or by acting as substrates for antioxidant enzymes to restore cellular redox homeostasis (DrugBank Online, 2024; Sies et al., 2017).