title: Sumatriptan scavenges superoxide, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide radicals: in vitro electron spin resonance study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The molecular mechanisms of migraine have not yet been clarified. Oxygen free radicals have been implicated in the genesis of many pathological processes, including migraine. Sumatriptan succinate is known to be a very effective drug for acute relief of migraine attack.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the direct scavenging activities of sumatriptan for superoxide, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide (NO) radicals using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurement of superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities was performed by ESR using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as a spin trap. NO was generated from 1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-(N-3-methyl-3-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1-triazene and analyzed by 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl produced from the reaction between 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide and NO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ESR study demonstrated that sumatriptan scavenged superoxide, hydroxyl, and NO in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sumatriptan has direct scavenging activity on free radicals and NO. Acute migraine drugs with antioxidant properties may provide heretofore unheralded benefits via this mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jimbo
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimazu
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019097:Spin Trapping; D018170:Sumatriptan / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D018170:Sumatriptan