Oxygen-ozone therapy paradoxical stimulation of ozone

 Luigi Valdenassi, Marianno Franzini, Vincenzo Simonetti, Giovanni Ricevuti

1Oxygen-Ozone Therapy Scientific Society, Gorle (BG);

2Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University

Ozone Therapy 2016

Abstract

After several years of scientific research and accurate clinical practice, the oxygen-ozone therapy continues to represent a method full of prospects and new opportunities. On this basis we present an updated review on basic mechanisms through which the ozone acts. Ozone, a molecule notable for its heterodoxy and atypicalness, has been regarded with suspicious for a long time since it was a possible generator of free radicals and correlated pathologies, but it is important distinguishing between the oxidative damage from free radicals, characterized by irreversible chemical modifications of the molecular target, and the physiological effects from free radicals (redox signaling), characterized on the other hand, by reversible chemical and selective alterations, which are potentially suitable to become an active part in the various metabolic regulation mechanisms, with positive effects on several pathologies.

Introduction

The oxygen-ozone therapy represents a method that after several years of scientific research and accurate clinical practice, continues to prove to be full of prospects and new opportunities. On this basis it is important to draw up an updated review on basic mechanisms through which the ozone acts. The first concept to deal with is the one concerning its influence on the oxidation-reduction processes.1,2 Being the ozone an oxidizing molecule, it has been regarded with suspicious for a long time since it was a possible generator of free radicals and correlated pathologies. Actually we should more correctly refer to it as paradoxical stimulation of ozone because even if it is an oxidizing molecule, it increases the antioxidant properties of those structures affected by its activity.2,3 And exactly on a controlled and moderated oxidative stress produced by the reactions of ozone with the different biological components of the organism is based the efficacy of the oxygen-ozone therapy.

Biologically

important free radicals It is necessary to point out the fact that until the second half of the 20thcentury, the research on the forms of free radicals made this name a synonym of harmful molecular events. Only in the first years of the new century, the new knowledge substantially changed such concept, conferring on free radicals a functional potential permeating almost all biological phenomena.5 Therefore we have the evidence of free radicals with biological significance (redox signaling), playing an important role in the transmission of signals between cells and tissues for the regulation of organic functions.6 Although it was previously pointed out that biological oxidation-reduction processes involving the exchanges between oxidizing and reducing agents occur through the activity of free radical intermediates: the semiquinones.