Oxidative stress: Difference between revisions
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Chemists and biologists define '''oxidative stress''' as an imbalance, in particular in | Chemists and biologists often define '''oxidative stress''' as an imbalance, in particular in biological cells, between the rate of formation and/or concentration oxygen free radicals — potent 'oxidizing' (electron capturing) molecules — and their elimination or 'neutralization' by antioxidants — 'reducing' (electron donating) molecules — the imbalance characterized by an excess of the former or a deficiency of the latter, leading to an alteration of a cell's redox state towards the oxidized state. | ||
Revision as of 18:10, 5 December 2007
Chemists and biologists often define oxidative stress as an imbalance, in particular in biological cells, between the rate of formation and/or concentration oxygen free radicals — potent 'oxidizing' (electron capturing) molecules — and their elimination or 'neutralization' by antioxidants — 'reducing' (electron donating) molecules — the imbalance characterized by an excess of the former or a deficiency of the latter, leading to an alteration of a cell's redox state towards the oxidized state.