OXIDATIVE STRESS: MODERN UNDERSTANDING AND AN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

Oxidative stress is a disturbance of redox homeostasis in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) and related reactive species exceed the capacity of antioxidant and repair systems. ROS arise during normal cellular metabolism and may increase with inflammation, radiation, smoking, pollution, mitochondrial dysfunction and other stressors. Excessive reactive species can modify lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, impair mitochondrial function and contribute to cellular senescence and chronic disease. Ayurveda does not describe a direct one-to-one equivalent of the modern biochemical term oxidative stress. This review therefore considers oxidative stress through the interacting concepts of Dosha, Agni, Ama, Dhatu, Ojas, Jara, Ahara, Nidra, Vihara and Rasayana. Vata is especially relevant to age-associated depletion and degenerative change; Pitta and Agni are relevant to metabolism and inflammatory or heat-related processes; Kapha may be involved when impaired metabolism, accumulation or obstruction is present. These are conceptual correlations, not direct biochemical equivalences. The article outlines potential links between redox imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, molecular damage, ageing, diet, sleep and Ayurvedic preventive principles.