Oxidative stress appears to be directly involved in the pathogenesis of several
neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Nigral
dopaminergic neurons are particularly exposed to oxidative stress because a pathological
accumulation of cytosolic dopamine gives rise to various toxic molecules, including free
radicals and reactive quinones. These latter species can react with proteins preventing them
from exerting their physiological functions. Among the possible targets of quinones, α …