title: Indole-3-carbinol as a scavenger of free radicals.
abstract: The ability of indole-3-carbinol (indole-3-methanol) to trap a metastable synthetic-free radical is presented. Indole-3-carbinol is capable of acting as a scavenger of free radicals in an in vitro system. The presence of indole-3-carbinol determines the disappearance of the free radicals, the reaction being time- and concentration-dependent. The scavenging activity of different indoles is compared. Indole-3-carbinol and indole-3-acetic acid are both able to scavenge free radicals, but indole-3-carbinol is more effective. Other indoles such as indole-3-aldehyde and indole-3-carboxylic acid do not show the ability to trap free radicals. Indole-3-aldehyde appears as a product of indole-3-carbinol reaction with free radicals. The formation of an adduct between the free radical generated in vitro and indole-3-carbinol has also been detected. Stability of indole-3-carbinol in buffered media at different pH values and formation of 3,3'-diindolylmethane from indole-3-carbinol is also studied. The scavenging activity of indole-3-carbinol and its implications on the anti-carcinogenesis process is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology (Plant Physiology), University of Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Arnao
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Bravo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acosta
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005609:Free Radicals; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007210:Indoleacetic Acids; D007211:Indoles; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; C030737:indoleacetic acid; C016517:indole-3-carbinol