The role of antioxidants in health, disease and in life extension

Abstract

Antioxidants may play an important role in the protection of a patient’s health, in the therapy of many diseases and in the prolongation of lifespan. It is now widely accepted that they are efficacious food supplements and may have beneficial therapeutic effects in several diseases. According to the World Health Organization measures about two thirds of world population-approximately 5 billion people-use them as primary medication, mainly in the form of medical plant remedies. The curative effect of medical plants was discovered by chance by our ancestors, and they used them for curing different diseases. About 1500 years BC, Egyptian people established the Ebers papyrus, which is the earliest written medical text, that contains description of 876 medicinal products, as well as 500 medical plants. One third of these medical plants are still used nowadays. In the modern era the antioxidant effect of these medical plants was recognized approximately 100 years ago. Antioxidants may be able to show down the formation of free radicals and have an important role in protecting the cells against their harmful effects. Their beneficial effects explain their therapeutic efficacy in different diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebral thrombotic events, inflammatory, autoimmune, and certain malignant disorders and ageing.