Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

High Throughput Screening Assessment of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Generation using Dihydroethidium (DHE) Fluorescence Dye
Published on: January 19, 2024
Redox active secondary metabolites
Claus Jacob1, Vincent Jamier, Lalla Aicha Ba
1Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, Campus, D-66123 Saarbruecken, Germany. c.jacob@mx.uni-saarland.de
Abstract:
Various secondary metabolites from plants, bacteria and fungi are redox active and able to modulate the intracellular redox equilibrium in living cells. Many of these compounds behave as antioxidants, yet some of them also cause oxidative modifications, which may ultimately result in cell death. Natural isothiocyanates and xanthohumol, for instance, appear to act specifically in and against cells with a disturbed redox balance, such as certain cancer cells. Similarly, polysulfane and pyocyanin derivatives employ the glutathione antioxidant defense system of cells to generate a lethal cocktail of reactive oxygen species. Together, these redox-modulating metabolites provide promising new leads to target selectively certain cancer cells. They may also be useful in the treatment of autoinflammatory diseases.
Related Concept Videos
Redox Reactions
Redox Reactions
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Redox Equilibria: Overview
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
Redox Titration: Other Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

