[Scavenger effect of various cerebrovascular drugs].
BACKGROUND
Oxygen free radicals play an important role in several physiological and pathophysiological processes. In pathological circumstances they can modify and damage biological systems. As oxygen free radicals are involved in a wide range of diseases (cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, etc.), scavenging these radicals should be considered as an important therapeutic approach.


OBJECTIVE
In our in vitro study the antioxidant capacity of three cerebrovascular drugs (pentoxiphylline, piracetam and vinpocetine) was investigated.


METHODS
Phenazine methosulphate (PMS) was applied to generate free radicals and thus increased red blood cell rigidity. Filtration technique and potassium leaking were used to detect the cellular damage and the scavenging effect of the examined drugs.


RESULTS
At therapeutic serum concentration only vinpocetine had significant (p < 0.01) scavenging activity which protective effect was even better at higher concentrations. Pentoxiphylline and piracetam did not have significant antioxidant capacity at therapeutic concentrations, but increasing the concentrations (pentoxiphylline at hundred times, while piracetam at ten times higher concentrations) led to a significant (p < 0.01) scavenger effect.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors' findings suggest that this pronounced antioxidant effect of vinpocetine and even the milder scavenging capacity of piracetam which tends to cumulate in the cerebral tissue may be of value in the treatment of patients with cerebrovascular disorders.
Horváth
Beáta
B
Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, I. Belgyógyászati Klinika.
Márton
Zsolt
Z
Halmosi
Róbert
R
Alexy
Tamás
T
Szapáry
László
L
Vékási
Judit
J
Bíró
Zsolt
Z
Habon
Tamás
T
Késmárky
Gábor
G
Tóth
Kálmán
K
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006440:Hemofiltration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D002839:Chromans; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; C013983:vinpocetine; C010643:6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid; D010431:Pentoxifylline; D010889:Piracetam