title: Ultraviolet radiation-induced production of superoxide radicals by selected antibiotics.
abstract: The ability of certain drugs and chemicals to induce cutaneous phototoxicity and DNA damage has been attributed to free radical formation during photolysis. In this context we have observed that the synergistic action of commonly used antibiotics and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exhibited strong superoxide radical (O2-) generation potential in the following order: benzylpenicillin > amphotericin > ampicillin > nystatin > spectinomycin > gentamicin. Commercially available penicillin, nystatin, ampicillin and gentamicin also generated O2- under similar conditions. The results suggest that due precaution are necessary to avoid UVR after the intake of photoreactive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Photobiology Laboratory Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrotra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005609:Free Radicals; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium / Q000737:chemistry; D010777:Photochemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium