Can someone please help with my science question?

Question

I'd like to know what inflammation, free radicals, and antioxidants have to do with each other. Can someone please give some kind of explanation (even if it's short)? Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Harmful free radicals are toxic molecules of oxygen that damage every area of our bodies. A free radical is an unstable incomplete molecule because it is missing an electron which exists in pair in stable molecules. Free radicals steal an electron from another molecule, thereby create another free radical. This new free radical then duplicates the process, resulting in a chain reaction of events, which can ultimately damage the body. Free radicals are natural by-products of ongoing biochemical reactions in the body, including ordinary metabolic processes and immune system responses. The common free radicals are oxygen reactive species (ROS), namely, superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, and peroxyl radical which can be internally produced by cellular metabolism, inflammaiton by immune cells and externally by radiation, pharmaceuticals, hydrogen peroxide, toxic chemicals, smoke, alcohol, oxidized polyunsaturated fats and cooked food.

Antioxidants work by neutralizing highly reactive, destructive compounds called free radicals. In biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation produce highly reactive free radicals. Antioxidants work by binding to the free radicals, they transforms them into non-damaging compounds or repairscellular damage. Antioxidants are able to easily donate electrons to molecules in need of an electron, such as free radicals, before they steal one from someplace else, thus stabilize and prevent a damaging chain reaction.

OY! It seems like stages but I could be way off. Like a chain reaction of how it happens. Sounds like first comes the free radicals, then inflammation, and then the antioxidants.

Answer 2

Free radicals are parts of a molecule which separate and oxidize cells and fluids within the body. Antioxidents work to clear free radicals from the body.
Inflammation occurs when the body repairs damage by sending more blood to the area. This would occur if free radicals attack a system in the body.

Answer 3

Free radicals have unpaired electrons & are uncharged . They are highly reactive.They play an important role in a number of biological processes, some of which are necessary for life, such as the intracellular killing of bacteria by neutrophil granulocytes. Free radicals have also been implicated in certain cell signalling processes. The two most important oxygen-centered free radicals are superoxide and hydroxyl radical. They are derived from molecular oxygen under reducing conditions. However, because of their reactivity, these same free radicals can participate in unwanted side reactions resulting in cell damage. Many forms of cancer are thought to be the result of reactions between free radicals and DNA, resulting in mutations that can adversely affect the cell cycle and potentially lead to malignancy. Some of the symptoms of aging such as atherosclerosis are also attributed to free-radical induced oxidation of many of the chemicals making up the body.Because free radicals are necessary for life, the body has a number of mechanisms to minimize free radical induced damage and to repair damage which does occur, such as the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. These are the antioxidants.When free radicals cause damage inflammation occurs and antioxidants help to decrease the free radical reactions.

Answer 4

All I know is that inflammation has four characteristics : pain, swelling, redness, and heat. If that helps...