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Free Radicals, Types, Sources and Damaging Reactions

Submitted by Dr. Tamer Fouad, M.D.

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Table of contents

• Definition of free radicals

• Structure of free radicals

• The chemistry of free radical generation

• Types of free radicals in the body

  • Superoxide

  • Hydrogen peroxide

  • Hydroxyl radical

  • Singlet oxygen

  • Nitric Oxide

  • Peroxynitrite

  • Hypochlorous acid

• Sources of free radicals

  • Endogenous sources

  • Exogenous sources

• Production of free radicals in cells

• Damaging reactions of free radicals

• Measurement of free radicals

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