Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants
In this review, we have collected the existing data on the bioactivity of antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, polyphenols, vitamin C) which are traditionally used in experimental biology and, in some cases, in the clinic. Presented data show that, despite the capacity of these substances to scavenge per...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/11/9303 |
| _version_ | 1797597438765170688 |
|---|---|
| author | Irina Tyuryaeva Olga Lyublinskaya |
| author_facet | Irina Tyuryaeva Olga Lyublinskaya |
| author_sort | Irina Tyuryaeva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this review, we have collected the existing data on the bioactivity of antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, polyphenols, vitamin C) which are traditionally used in experimental biology and, in some cases, in the clinic. Presented data show that, despite the capacity of these substances to scavenge peroxides and free radicals in cell-free systems, their ability to exhibit these properties in vivo, upon pharmacological supplementation, has not been confirmed so far. Their cytoprotective activity is explained mainly by the ability not to suppress, but to activate multiple redox pathways, which causes biphasic hormetic responses and highly pleiotropic effects in cells. N-acetylcysteine, polyphenols, and vitamin C affect redox homeostasis by generating low-molecular-weight redox-active compounds (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> or H<sub>2</sub>S), known for their ability to stimulate cellular endogenous antioxidant defense and promote cytoprotection at low concentrations but exert deleterious effects at high concentrations. Moreover, the activity of antioxidants strongly depends on the biological context and mode of their application. We show here that considering the biphasic and context-dependent response of cells on the pleiotropic action of antioxidants can help explain many of the conflicting results obtained in basic and applied research and build a more logical strategy for their use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:06:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da5971e535eb4450b7ab08e714c7f8c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:06:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-da5971e535eb4450b7ab08e714c7f8c82023-11-18T07:57:10ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-05-012411930310.3390/ijms24119303Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological AntioxidantsIrina Tyuryaeva0Olga Lyublinskaya1Department of Intracellular Signaling and Transport, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretskii pr. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, RussiaDepartment of Intracellular Signaling and Transport, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretskii pr. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, RussiaIn this review, we have collected the existing data on the bioactivity of antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine, polyphenols, vitamin C) which are traditionally used in experimental biology and, in some cases, in the clinic. Presented data show that, despite the capacity of these substances to scavenge peroxides and free radicals in cell-free systems, their ability to exhibit these properties in vivo, upon pharmacological supplementation, has not been confirmed so far. Their cytoprotective activity is explained mainly by the ability not to suppress, but to activate multiple redox pathways, which causes biphasic hormetic responses and highly pleiotropic effects in cells. N-acetylcysteine, polyphenols, and vitamin C affect redox homeostasis by generating low-molecular-weight redox-active compounds (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> or H<sub>2</sub>S), known for their ability to stimulate cellular endogenous antioxidant defense and promote cytoprotection at low concentrations but exert deleterious effects at high concentrations. Moreover, the activity of antioxidants strongly depends on the biological context and mode of their application. We show here that considering the biphasic and context-dependent response of cells on the pleiotropic action of antioxidants can help explain many of the conflicting results obtained in basic and applied research and build a more logical strategy for their use.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/11/9303antioxidantsROSN-acetylcysteineNACpolyphenolsresveratrol |
| spellingShingle | Irina Tyuryaeva Olga Lyublinskaya Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants International Journal of Molecular Sciences antioxidants ROS N-acetylcysteine NAC polyphenols resveratrol |
| title | Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants |
| title_full | Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants |
| title_fullStr | Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants |
| title_short | Expected and Unexpected Effects of Pharmacological Antioxidants |
| title_sort | expected and unexpected effects of pharmacological antioxidants |
| topic | antioxidants ROS N-acetylcysteine NAC polyphenols resveratrol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/11/9303 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irinatyuryaeva expectedandunexpectedeffectsofpharmacologicalantioxidants AT olgalyublinskaya expectedandunexpectedeffectsofpharmacologicalantioxidants |