title: Tetramethylpyrazine scavenges superoxide anion and decreases nitric oxide production in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
abstract: Tetramethylpyrazine is one of the active ingredients of the Chinese herb Ligusticum wallichii Franchat. By electron spin resonance spin trapping methods, effects of tetramethylpyrazine on superoxide anion and nitric oxide generated by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were studied. During the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes induced by N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, tetramethylpyrazine scavenges superoxide anion dose-dependently, and decreases the production of nitric oxide significantly, but shows no influence on oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the effective protection of tetramethylpyrazine against ischemic brain injury might be due to its scavenging of reactive oxygen species and regulation on nitric oxide production, and consequent prevention of peroxynitrite formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhaohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Taotao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jingwu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Gengshan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shaozu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xin
mesh_terms: D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011719:Pyrazines; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine