Antioxidants: New-generation therapeutic base for treatment of polygenic disorders

Hyperphysiological burden of free radicals causes imbalance in homeostatic phenomena between oxidants and antioxidants in the body. This imbalance leads to oxidative stress that is being suggested as the root cause of aging and various human diseases like atherosclerosis, stroke, diabetes, cancer and neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinsonism. Therefore, in modern Western medicine, the balance between antioxidation and oxidation is believed to be a critical concept for maintaining a healthy biological system. Researches in the recent past have accumulated enormous evidence advocating enrichment of body systems with antioxidants to cor rect vitiated homeostasis and prevent the onset as well as treat the disease caused/fostered due to free radicals and related oxidative stress. This article presents current understanding of the role of free radicals and oxidative stress in pathogenesis of various diseases and advancements made in developing antioxidant-based therapeutics and also discuss the opportunities to develop therapeutics from traditional medicinal practice.