Affiliations: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology/Institute
for Applied Botany, Veterinary University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria | PHAFAG AG, FL-9486, Schaanwald, Liechtenstein | L. Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical
Traumatology, Vienna, Austria
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Prof. Hans Nohl, Department of
Pharmacology and Toxicology/Institute for Applied Botany, Veterinary University
of Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. Tel.: +43 1 25077 4404
(-4428); Fax: +43 1 25077 4490; E-mail: Hans.Nohl@vu-wien.ac.at
Abstract: Here we show that lipid peroxidation of liposomal membranes was
suppressed in the presence of Caroverine, a spasmolytic drug used in some
countries. In order to understand the mechanism of this antioxidant action of
Caroverine we studied the interaction of Caroverine with superoxide radicals,
hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. The results of the study show that the
reaction of Caroverine with O_2^{-•}radicals is of
marginal significance. However, it is efficient in removing peroxynitrite and a
particular high reaction constant was found for reaction with hydroxyl
radicals. The strong antioxidant activity of Caroverine is therefore based both
on the partial prevention of the formation and the highly active scavenging of
hydroxyl radicals.
