Hormesis
Hormesis is a biological phenomenon where a beneficial effect (improved health, stress tolerance, growth or longevity) results from exposure to low doses of an agent that is otherwise toxic or lethal when given at higher doses.
Definition[edit | edit source]
Hormesis is characterized by dose-response relationships displaying low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition. Hormesis is observed also in the responses of many animals to certain levels of all types of stressors. The hormesis model of dose-response is vigorously debated. The biological mechanisms by which this occurs are not well understood, although a number of theories have been proposed.
History[edit | edit source]
The term "hormesis" comes from the Greek word hormo, which means "to excite". It was first used in the scientific literature in 1943 by Southam and Ehrlich.
Mechanisms[edit | edit source]
The mechanisms of hormesis are varied and can involve a multitude of pathways. Some of the proposed mechanisms include the upregulation of protective enzymes and stress response genes, the activation of immune responses, and the increased production of antioxidants.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Hormesis has potential applications in many areas such as toxicology, risk assessment, radiation protection, aging research, and medicine.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Hormesis Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD