ROS‐driven cellular methane formation: Potential implications for health sciences

Abstract

Abstract Recently it has been proposed that methane might be produced by all living organisms via a mechanism driven by reactive oxygen species that arise through the metabolic activity of cells. Here, we summarise details of this novel reaction pathway and discuss its potential significance for clinical and health sciences. In particular, we highlight the role of oxidative stress in cellular methane formation. As several recent studies also demonstrated the anti‐inflammatory potential for exogenous methane‐based approaches in mammalians, this article addresses the intriguing question if ROS‐driven methane formation has a general physiological role and associated diagnostic potential.