Chemicals and Drugs

Reactive Oxygen Species

Molecules or ions formed by the incomplete one-electron reduction of oxygen. These reactive oxygen intermediates include SINGLET OXYGEN; SUPEROXIDES; PEROXIDES; HYDROXYL RADICAL; and HYPOCHLOROUS ACID. They contribute to the microbicidal activity of PHAGOCYTES, regulation of SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION and GENE EXPRESSION, and the oxidative damage to NUCLEIC ACIDS; PROTEINS; and LIPIDS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Molecules or ions formed by the incomplete one-electron reduction of oxygen. These reactive oxygen intermediates include SINGLET OXYGEN; SUPEROXIDES; PEROXIDES; HYDROXYL RADICAL; and HYPOCHLOROUS ACID. They contribute to the microbicidal activity of PHAGOCYTES, regulation of SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION and GENE EXPRESSION, and the oxidative damage to NUCLEIC ACIDS; PROTEINS; and LIPIDS.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

12 entry terms
  • Active Oxygen
  • Active Oxygen Species
  • Oxygen Radical
  • Oxygen Radicals
  • Oxygen Species, Reactive
  • Pro-Oxidant
  • Pro-Oxidants
  • Reactive Oxygen Intermediates
  • Oxygen, Active
  • Pro Oxidant
  • Pro Oxidants
  • Radical, Oxygen

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

1993

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Reactive Oxygen Species. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017382. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017382
  2. Reactive Oxygen Species. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_oxygen_species
  3. Reactive Oxygen Species. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q424361