Therapeutic Potential of Antioxidants in the Prevention of Human Diseases

Oxidative stress has been associated with a number of complications, including infectious diseases, inflammatory complications, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, and various cancers. Natural plant-derived products have been used to treat these complications for thousands of years, without much understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) through which these compounds prevent or cure these human diseases. Furthermore, several antioxidants derived from various natural resources have been tested in the past, and it has been found that their effective antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties could benefit human health. Indeed, some currently available pharmaceutical drugs have been developed from compounds isolated from various plant species. Furthermore, multiple analogs of antioxidants are more potent than parent antioxidants. Although several pre-clinical studies indicate the beneficial effects of various antioxidants, some have never been tested in a clinical setting. Furthermore, novel functions of already-existing antioxidants and the identification of novel antioxidants with potential benefits to human health and disease still need to be explored. This Special Issue is dedicated to studies on various natural antioxidants and their possible analogs in preventing and treating various human diseases.