Role of Antioxidants in Oral Medicine

The realization that reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress play an important role in the etiology and progression of major human degenerative diseases has triggered enormous and worldwide interest in endogenous and exogenous antioxidants. The 1990’s have seen the explosion of interest in antioxidants. The article reviews free radical chemistry, antioxidant systems & their role in human diseases with special reference to oral malignancies & premalignancies. INTRODUCTION: Even with improved living standard of modern life, many diseases still develop and the factors are likely to be as follows: imbalanced diet, overly consuming high levels of calories, absorbing few fibers, and the lack of vitamins and mineral substances. As a result, the patients of all kinds of chronic diseases are increasing by record numbers. Free radicals are atoms or molecules that contain one or more unpaired electrons. Many radicals are highly reactive and can function as reducing or oxidizing agents by donating electrons to or removing electrons from other molecules. Small amounts of free radicals are constantly being generated in all living organisms. Although free radicals are potentially harmful to cellular components, a substantial body of evidence supports a role for these highly reactive chemical molecules in fundamental cellular reactions and cell– cycle regulation. Nature has endowed each cell with adequate protective antioxidant mechanisms against any harmful effects of free radicals for eg., superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin, thiols and disulfide bonding are buffering systems in every cell. Antioxidants are substances or agents that scavenge reactive oxygen metabolites, block their generation or enhance endogenous antioxidants capabilities . Moureu & Dufraise (1921) introduced the term “antioxygen” to describe these compounds that act catalytically by retarding oxidation . In recent years there is an upsurge in the areas related to newer developments in prevention of diseases specially the role of free radicals and antioxidants. So it will be pertinent to examine the possible role of ‘free radicals’ in disease and how ‘antioxidants’ play an important role in their prevention, especially the current status of the subject matter and future prospects. Free Radicals: Oxygen is a highly reactive atom that is capable of becoming part of potentially damaging molecules commonly called “free radicals.” A free radical can be defined as chemical species possessing unpaired electron . Free radicals are capable of attacking the healthy cells of the body, causing them to