- Marisol Fernandez-Ortiz 1*
- Ramy K. A. Sayed 2
- Russel J. Reiter 3
Editorial on the Research Topic: Antioxidants in mitigating oxidative stress-induced damage
Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant defenses that normally maintain redox homeostasis. When ROS accumulate in excess, they damage lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, impair mitochondrial function, disrupt signaling networks, and compromise cell viability. Because this redox imbalance contributes to aging and to the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration, organ toxicity, reproductive decline, cancer, and metabolic disorders, there is a pressing need to understand how antioxidant strategies can counteract ROS-induced injury. The Research Topic Antioxidants in Mitigating Oxidative Stress-Induced Damage was established to gather studies that illuminate mechanisms of oxidative damage and explore the protective effects of antioxidants across diverse biological systems. With the full set of contributions now published, this Editorial highlights central findings, thematic insights, and future directions that emerge from this Research Topic.