title: Primaquine can mediate hydroxyl radical generation by Trypanosoma cruzi extracts.
abstract: Primaquine increases the NAD(P)H dependent oxygen consumption and hydroxyl radical generation by extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Spin-trapping studies show that hydroxyl radical yield is completely inhibited by catalase and slightly increased by SOD, indicating that radical generation is dependent on the pair primaquine-NAD(P)H and their interaction product, H2O2. Primaquine effects upon Trypanosoma cruzi extracts are compared with those obtained with nifurtimox, a compound effective in the treatment of Chagas' disease. The observed similarity suggests that hydroxyl radical may be involved in the antiprotozoan activity of primaquine.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005609:Free Radicals; D006878:Hydroxides; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011319:Primaquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D006878:Hydroxides; D009249:NADP; D011319:Primaquine