(September 12, 2008 - Insidermedicine) A newly developed molecule that stimulates an enzyme involved in the metabolism of alcohol may have significant promise for the treatment of many medical conditions - from heart attacks to brain diseases, according to research published in the latest issue of Science.

Here are some facts about free radicals and how they affect your health:

 .     Free radicals are chemically unstable molecules that are quick to  react with other molecules in their vicinity in an effort to achieve stability.

 .     Free radicals are created in the body all the time through normal bodily functions. We are also exposed to free radicals in the environment through sources such as cigarette smoke and other environmental pollutants.

 .     In the body, free radicals damage other cells when they react with them. In fact, many of the diseases associated with older age are believed to be caused, at least in part, by the buildup of free radicals in the body over time.

Researchers out of Stanford and Indiana Universities have developed a molecule known as Alda-1, so-called because it stimulates the activity of an enzyme known as aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). In humans, this enzyme is known to play a major role in the metabolism of alcohol, but animal studies have shown that it can also protect the heart against free radical damage that occurs after a heart attack. These findings may help explain why those who drink moderately tend to have less severe heart attacks than those who abstain completely.

The promise for a molecule like Alda-1 is immense because free radical damage is implicated in several medical conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Probably, the deep pockets of industry would be required to fully mine the potential of this and related molecules.

Today's research highlights a promising new molecule known as Alda-1, which can protect the body against free radical damage through the stimulation of the ALDH2 enzyme.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.