Antioxidants in Infectious Disease Management

Abstract

Antioxidants are notable in the scavenging of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are evolving as prophylactic and therapeutic agents. Excessive influence of free radicals/ROS triggers and depletes natural antioxidants leading to oxidative stress and destroying several biological mechanisms which stabilize the immune system. These are linked to the pathogenesis of various disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, premature ageing, etc. alongside diminished immune systems making individuals vulnerable to hosts of infectious diseases. Infectious diseases occur due to the dysfunction of the body's usual homeostatic processes due to the harmful effects of infectious organisms like viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, failed immune systems, etc. This chapter considers antioxidants as useful in the management of infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Ebola virus disease (EVD), HIV/AIDS, diphtheria, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae infection, STDs, salmonella, cholera, hepatitis, etc. Consistent consumption of natural diets retaining high-level antioxidants some of which have been found pharmacologically effective as prophylactic and therapeutic agents is crucial to conserve a low level of free radicals and oxidative stress to maintain an elevated immune system and avert the hazards of infections is an approach to manage several infectious diseases. Robust antioxidants are found in resveratrol, Pinus pinaster, Allium cepa , Allium sativum, Aloe vera , Andrographis paniculata , Azadirachta indica , Camellia sinensis , Curcuma longa , Glycyrrhiza glabra , etc.