Antioxidant properties of natural hydroquinones from the marine colonial tunicate Aplidium californicum.
Antioxidant prenylated hydroquinones and non active chromene or chroman extracted from the marine colonial tunicate Aplidium californicum have been studied in order to throw some light on their biological activity. It has been found that the active compounds inhibit superoxide anion production in rat alveolar macrophages and in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. The antioxidant activity may be ascribed rather to a direct reaction of the superoxide anion with the hydroquinones than to an enzymatic inhibition or a membrane signal transfer. A physiological activity close to that of alpha tocopherol can be considered.
Cotelle
N
N
Unité 16 INSERM, Lille, France.
Moreau
S
S
Bernier
J L
JL
Catteau
J P
JP
Hénichart
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005609:Free Radicals; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013481:Superoxides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014561:Urochordata / Q000737:chemistry*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000737:chemistry
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D006873:Hydroquinones; D013481:Superoxides; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase