title: [Scavenger effect of various cerebrovascular drugs].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, I. Belgyógyászati Klinika.
authors.forename: Beáta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horváth
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Márton
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halmosi
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alexy
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szapáry
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vékási
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bíró
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Habon
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Késmárky
authors.forename: Kálmán
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tóth
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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