L-NAME as a Synthetic Antioxidant in Liver Injuries

Abstract

Oxidative stress is attributable to a mismatch between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), as well as to the body’s antioxidant capacity to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or mend the ensuing damage. RNS, such as nitric oxide (NO), are synthetized by nitric oxide synthases (NOS). NO is a reactive molecule that reacts with ROS, resulting in the occurrence of peroxynitrite (ONOO-). NO is infamous for causing oxidative injury in the liver in the case of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). NO, which can help protect the tissue, or conversely, injure it, depends upon such factors as abundance of ROS, the insult type, the cellular redox status of liver, as well as the source and quantity of NO. N?-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) is an NOS inhibitor used to decrease oxidative stress. In this chapter, possible effects of l-NAME on liver injury are discussed. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.