Figure 2.

Generation of reactive and damaging hydroxyl radicals (OH^•). Free Iron (Fe²⁺) reacts trough the Fenton reaction with hydrogen peroxide, leading to the generation of very reactive and damaging hydroxyl radicals (OH^•). Superoxide can also react with ferric iron in the Haber-Weiss reaction leading to the production of Fe²⁺, which then again affects redox cycling. The highly reactive hydroxyl radicals lead to oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increase in intracellular free-calcium concentration, and finally causing neuronal death.