Antioxidants inhibit the formation and spread of free radicals which can be damaging in biological systems. Free radicals form in biological systems through metabolism, but it is also realized that exogenous environmental sources, such as radiation, food, and drugs, contribute significantly to the generation of free radicals in biological systems. Being reactive species, free radicals are short-lived and do not travel far from cellular targets. Their concentration in biological systems is very low and is difficult to detect directly by electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR). Indirect...

It is well known that basic science can trigger an invention of considerable technological and commercial importance. Indeed basic science and invention are often inextricably linked, each being able to catalyse the other. To engender such developments it is important that there should be good communication between the scientist and the technologist. The field of membrane biotechnology is a growing field where such communication is increasingly taking place and where new inventions are occurring. This book provides an overview of this developing field. It contains chapters by scientist and...

Skeletal muscle consumes significant amounts of oxygen, and its oxygen flux increases significantly under conditions of exercise and muscle contraction. This makes the muscle vulnerable to oxidative stress since concomitantly with the increase of oxygen flow there is an increase of free oxygen radicals which are a byproduct of muscle respiration. A number of studies in the last decade have documented the involvement of free oxygen radicals in exercising muscles. The consequences of muscle oxidative stress have resulted mainly in increased muscle protein oxidation, elevation of lipid...