Formation and metabolism of reactive oxygen species in cell

We live in an environment full of oxygen. Oxygen radical species-associated chemical reactions are a part of metabolism in aerobic organisms. Low level of reactive oxygen species acts as signal molecule involving many bioreactions. However, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and oxidative damage are associated with many pathologic processes. The role of ROS in physiological and pathologic process causes more and more attention. This review describes the possible cellular locations and mechanisms of generating ROS in animal cells, summarizes the intracellular antioxidant systems, lists the current detection methods of ROS and its limitation, enumerates some urgent problems in ROS research, and finally, prospects the targeting treatment with antioxidants in clinical pharmacology.