[Antioxidants in liver protection]

Great importance has been attributed to antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of conditions associated with oxidative stress for many years. At the same time the antioxidants are free radicals themselves, and they can exert prooxidant activity depending on the concentration. They influence the cell redox homeostasis by their prooxidant and antioxidant activity as well. Drugs of chronic liver diseases should be considered, because free radicals are generated during the activity of the monooxygenase system, which affect the tissue oxidised status. Combined antioxidant treatment is more favourable compared with monotherapy, because antioxidants have scavenger-, compartment- and tissue-specificity and they regenerate each other directly, too. Beside their antioxidant property they may also directly regulate many important processes, e.g. cell cycle. We have some favourable results with regard combined antioxidant therapy of liver disease of different etiology.