Natural Products Targeting on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Mechanisms, Therapies, and Safety Assessment

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Zhenquan Jia, Assistant Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Substantial evidence suggests that overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and its associated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various human chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Enhanced ROS production can cause oxidative damage to the cellular macromolecules including lipids, proteins, and DNA. In addition, oxidative stress activates nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B), nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and antioxidant-responsive elements (ARE) to regulate anti-inflammatory and antioxidative genes involved in inflammatory responses and cellular defense mechanisms. Recent studies have showed that certain natural compounds and/or their derived small molecules have the ability to protect cells from oxidative stress and ameliorate various oxidative stress-related diseases. However, a large number of natural products are underutilized and unexploited because their bioactivities are unknown and the molecular mechanisms involved are yet to be identified. Understanding the mechanisms of actions of natural products would shed further light into the application of these compounds in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases in humans. This special issue includes two invited reviews and twelve original research articles that are focused on the antioxidative/anti-inflammatory effects of various natural compounds and their safety in vitro and in vivo. Further, these studies identified the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the bioactivities of these natural compounds.

Additional Information

Publication
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2018, Article 6576093
Language: English
Date: 2018
Keywords
editorial, natural products, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

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