title: Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of eugenol: formation of a cytotoxic metabolite(s).
abstract: The oxidation of eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) by horseradish peroxidase was studied. Following the initiation of the reaction with hydrogen peroxide, eugenol was oxidized via a one-electron pathway to a phenoxyl radical which subsequently formed a transient, yellow-colored intermediate which was identified as a quinone methide. The eugenol phenoxyl radical was detected using fast-flow electron spin resonance. The radicals and/or quinone methide further reacted to form an insoluble complex polymeric material. The stoichiometry of the disappearance of eugenol versus hydrogen peroxide was approximately 2:1. The addition of glutathione or ascorbate prevented the appearance of the quinone methide and also prevented the disappearance of the parent compound. In the presence of glutathione, a thiyl radical was detected, and increases in oxygen consumption and in the formation of oxidized glutathione were also observed. These results suggested that glutathione reacted with the eugenol phenoxyl radical and reduced it back to the parent compound. Glutathione also reacted directly with the quinone methide resulting in the formation of a eugenol-glutathione conjugate(s). Using 3H-labeled eugenol, extensive covalent binding to protein was observed. Finally, the oxidation products of eugenol/peroxidase were observed to be highly cytotoxic using isolated rat hepatocytes as target cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norbeck
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Constantin-Teodosiu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van der Zee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moldéus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005054:Eugenol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D005609:Free Radicals; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D005054:Eugenol; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D010544:Peroxidases; D005978:Glutathione