Authors: Bocci, Velio; Zanardi, Iacopo; Michaeli, David; Travagli, Valter

Source: Current Drug Therapy, Volume 4, Number 3, September 2009 , pp. 159-173(15)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

After a long initial stage obscured by empirism and misconceptions, oxygen-ozonetherapy has now become a scientific discipline where the reactions between ozone and human blood are within the realm of orthodox biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology. Most of the basic mechanisms of action have been clarified and ozone can be considered a pro-drug, which almost instantaneously reacts with antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids. These reactions generate the actual ozone messengers represented by either hydrogen peroxide as a fast acting compound or a variety of lipid oxidation products as late effectors. While ozone is totally consumed, micromolar amounts of these messengers are able to enhance the delivery of oxygen via erythrocyte activation, the immune system by a bland leukocyte stimulation and most of the remaining body cells by up-regulating the antioxidant system. The hazard of ozone toxicity has been dispelled by using the gas only within a dose range perfectly calibrated against the potent blood antioxidant capability. Ozonetherapy can be very useful in patients with chronic vascular disorders and ischemic problems and should be extensively used by official medicine. An extraordinary facet of ozone is its medical application versatility, as represented by several administration routes, and the minimal cost of this drug.

Keywords: Ozonetherapy; oxidative stress; antioxidants; ozone tolerance; hormesis; vascular diseases

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2009-09-01

More about this publication?

• Current Drug Therapy publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances in drug therapy. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles in the field. Topics covered include: new and existing drugs, therapies and medical devices.
  
  The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians involved in drug therapy.

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