Oxidative Stress Environmental Induction and Dietary Antioxidants

Oxidative stress is considered to be a causative feature for many diseases, notably the cancers and neuropathologies and other associated pathophysiological conditions. As we live in an oxygen rich environment and our basic metabolism at cellular level is dependent upon oxygen, we cannot avoid the production of "reactive oxygen species" or "reactive nitrogen species" and in consequence oxidative stress associated molecular damage. These pathophysiological conditions are attributed, at least in part, due to oxidative imbalance which may arise due to nutritional imbalance. This nutritional and oxidative imbalance can be countered by inclusion of many plant based compounds in the diet or as supplementation. Some of the notable plant based products with proven anti-oxidant properties are turmeric, ginseng, ginger, berries, garlic, lycopenes etc, and many of these compounds are having therapeutic potential for counter acting disease at the molecular level. This also warrants for a need to research and understand the processes inherent to oxidative stress in various pathophysiological conditions at molecular level and to evaluate whether oxidative and nutritional imbalance can be overcome with addition of supplements to a healthy diet. This book covers specifically the role of redox mechanisms and oxidative stress in cancers and neuropathological conditions, and one other section is dedicated to the therapeutic potential of various dietary compounds. Book jacket.