title: Spermine: an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.
abstract: This work demonstrates that spermine is a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is found that: (1) Spermine inhibits the cytochrome C reduction initiated by FMLP- or PMA-stimulated human granulocytes. (2) Spermine inhibits the Fe(III)/xanthine oxidase stimulated lipid peroxidation of brain phospholipid liposomes. The antioxidative effect disappears at high Fe(III) concentrations. (3) Spermine forms a complex with Fe(II). (4) Spermine inhibits the Fe(II)-induced depolymerization of hyaluronic acid, and EDTA abolishes this effect. (5) Spermine or spermine-Fe(II) has no superoxide mimetic effect. These findings suggest that spermine has at least two antioxidative mechanisms of action: (I) Spermine inhibits the generation of the transport of superoxide radicals from stimulated granulocytes, and (II) Spermine inhibits the Haber-Weiss reaction by forming an unreactive chelate with Fe. Spermine thus prevents generation of destructive hydroxyl radicals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Løvaas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carlin
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008081:Liposomes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010743:Phospholipids; D013481:Superoxides; D013096:Spermine; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid