Reducing agent

A **reducing agent** is a substance that donates electrons to another chemical species during an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction. In this process, the reducing agent itself becomes oxidized while causing the other reactant to be reduced. Reducing agents are essential for facilitating electron transfer in both laboratory and biological systems. Common examples include hydrogen gas, alkali metals, formic acid, carbon monoxide, and various hydride compounds. In biochemistry, molecules such as NADH serve as biological reducing agents critical for metabolic pathways. The term "reducing agent" refers broadly to any molecule or ion capable of acting as an electron donor; it does not refer to a single defined molecular entity but rather describes a functional role within redox chemistry. **Note:** "Reducing agent" is not considered a therapeutic target such as an enzyme or receptor; it is instead a general chemical concept describing function within redox reactions rather than identifying any specific protein or druggable biomolecule. Therefore, *is_target* should be marked false, and *is_incorrect* should be marked true, since this entry does not correspond to an individual molecular target suitable for structured pharmacological data extraction.

Other names

reductantreducerelectron donor

Electron donation to another species resulting in reduction of that species and oxidation of the reducing agent itself