Figure 2.

Antioxidant mechanisms of molecular iodine (I₂). I₂ acts as a scavenger of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydroxyl radicals (OH) or superoxide anions (O₂) generating neutral components hypoiodous acid (HIO) or hydroiodic acid (HI). I₂ in combination with arachidonic acid (AA), and generating the iodolipid 6-iodolactone (6-IL), inhibits the activity of proinflammatory enzymes like nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase type 2 (Cox2). In addition, the iodination of the cysteine-rich protein Keap1 releases and promotes the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) that with Maf activates the antioxidant response element (ARE), inducing overexpression of antioxidant enzymes type II like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (Cat).