title: Mechanism of the interaction of superoxide ion and ascorbate with anthracycline antibiotics.
abstract: The interaction of superoxide ion and ascorbate anion with anthracycline antibiotics (adriamycin and aclacinimycin A) as well as with their Fe3+ complexes has been studied in aprotic and protic media. It was found that both superoxide and ascorbate reduce anthracyclines to deoxyaglycons via a one-electron transfer mechanism under all conditions studied. The reaction of ascorbate anion with adriamycin and aclacinomycin A in aqueous solution proceeded only in the presence of Fe3+ ions; it is supposed that an active catalytic species was Fe3+ adriamycin. It is also supposed that the reduction of anthracycline antibiotics by O2-. and ascorbate in cells may increase their anticancer effect.
authors.affiliation: All-Union Vitamin Research Institute, Moscow, USSR.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Afanas'ev
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Polozova
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kuprianova
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Gunar
mesh_terms: D015250:Aclarubicin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D015250:Aclarubicin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid