Lipid oxidation: biologic effects and antioxidants--a review.

The detection and measurement of lipid oxidation in biological systems and some biologic effects of this oxidation are reviewed. The role of lipid oxidation in the process of photocarcinogenesis and the protective effect of antioxidants against this process also are discussed. The mechanism of such protection is unknown and studies directed at elucidating the mechanism of antioxidant effect in photocarcinogenesis and in some other pathological conditons believed to involve lipid oxidation are needed. In addition to this, epoxidation of lipids observed in monolayer studies requires further investigation, particularly in the presence of some other unsaturated molecules. The possible significance of such a study--particularly in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens, where formation of epoxides is generally accepted as active intermediates--is also discussed. In addition, present knowledge on the role of lipid peroxides in the destruction of proteins and biomembranes, in chemically induced toxicity and in generation of singlet oxygen is presented.