Aging free radical involvement

Harman, D. (1993). Free radical involvement in aging. Pathophysiology and therapeutic implications. Drugs Aging 3, 60-80. 

Free Radical Involvement in Chronic Diseases and Aging... 

Increased levels of ROS due to oxidative stress have been consistently found in cardiovascular diseases as atherosclerosis or hypertension [18]. There is certain evidence that the free radicals involved in Parkinson s disease are mainly due to the production of increased levels of free radicals during oxidative metabolism of dopamine [19]. Oxidative stress, manifested by protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation (LP), among other alterations, is a characteristic of Alzheimer s disease [20] and in the pathogenesis of diabetes related complications. Treatment with antioxidants seemed to be a promising therapeutic option for these diseases [21], The inflammatory nature of rheumatoid arthritis implies that a state of oxidative stress may also exist in this disease [22,23]. Also, free radicals have a certain role in Huntington s disease [24,25], age related degeneration [26], and some autoimmune disorders [27],... 

Voider, L. and Crino, P.B. (1990). Involvement of free radicals in dementia of the Alzheimer type a hypothesis. Neurobiol. Aging 11, 567-571. 

Oxygen involved in metabohc processes are prone to form free radicals, which are thought to cause damage to cells and possibly be associated with cancer and aging. 

Unusual features of vitamin E substances as observed by various investigators include (1) the vitamin may be involved in aging mechanisms by protecting unsaturated fatty adds and membranes against free radicals ... 

Free radicals, notably the superoxide radical, are by-products of the cellular metabolism and transition-metal ions seem to play a role in causing DNA damage in vivo. This may lead to mutations and eventually to cancer, and some of the phenomena of aging have also been attributed to free-radical-induced DNA damage. We are still far from understanding these reactions in sufficient detail, but the reader will find chapters on peroxyl radical chemistry and on some aspects of the involvement of transition-metal ions in free-radical reactions on which future work may be based. 

There is suspicion that aluminum is involved in several neurological diseases associated with aging and there is evidence the potential of iron for enhancing free radical generation in nervous tissue is enhanced by aluminum. It is hoped the results of this project will so reveal. 

Trier (34) described one bulked paper as being loaded with microspheres of a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile. Such polymers are known to split off hydrochloric acid. While this may have occurred in oven aging, the pH of the sample did not drop below 7 so acid degradation does not seem to have been involved. On the other hand, the paper did degrade rapidly in the humid oven, and this was very well corrected by the KI treatment. From the evidence in the literature peroxides and, through the catalysts, free radicals appear to be at work, which the KI corrected. This is an application that recalls its use in oxygen-alkaline pulping and in the prevention of the peroxide defects in microfilm. 

Free radicals might be involved in the incidences of various diseases such as arthritis, hemorrhagic shock, atherosclerosis, advancing age, ischemia and reperfusion injury of many organs, Alzheimer and Parkinson s disease, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, tumor promotion and carcinogenesis, AIDS, and other human health problems [85]. The oxidative proanthocyanidins as antioxidants could quench the free radicals and might help to enhance the action of other antioxidants such as vitamin C. 

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