Free radical-mediated reactions have been well known in chemistry and
physical chemistry for many years. Applying this knowledge to living
organisms, biochemists have shown that reactive free radicals are formed
at many intracellular sites during normal metabolism, and they have
started to suggest possible roles in various pathological processes and
conditions, for example in radiation damage, in the metabolism of
xenobiotics, in carcinogenesis and in metabolic disorders. At present, a
large and relevant mass of experimental evidence supports the view that
reactive free radicals are involved in the pathogenesis of several
diseases and syndromes. This literature has captured the attention and
interest of people involved in the biomedical field. Exciting
developments in radical research are probable in the near future,
establishing a greater interaction between basic science research and
medicine. While the task of defining the involvement of free radicals in
human pathology is difficult, it is nonetheless extremely important that
such interaction be fulfilled as soon as possible. These were the
considerations motivating us during the organization of the VI Biennial
Meeting of the International Society for Free Radical Research held in
Torino, Italy, in June 1992, and also during the preparation of this
book. Experts in the various aspects of free radical research were
invited to participate in the Torino Meeting and to contribute chapters
for this volume.