N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Natural Antioxidants : ROLE IN COMBATING LIPID PEROXIDATION

Oxidative stress has been implicated as the major causative factor in the etiology of life-threatning diseases namely atherosclerosis, cancer and the like.The reactive oxygen species (ROS) released during this condition bring about peroxidation of lipid which in turn lead to a cascade of destructive mechanisms ultimately leading to cell death. Although internally present enzymes and externally supplied synthesis antioxidants are capable of counteracting this condition, their short comings include restricted turnover and undesired side- effects, respectively. Thus, the role of n-3 PUFA in combination with naturally present phytochemicals was evaluated in alleviating conditions of oxidative stress in animal models-rats as well as gerbils, whose lipid metabolism mechanism is close to humans when compared to rats. This book will prove to be a good read for academicians, researchers and even entrepreneurs involved in the field of nutrition & medicine, not withstanding biochemistry.