[Antioxidant activity of hydroxy derivatives of coumarin].

ABSTRACT

The inhibition efficiency (antioxidant activity) of hydroxy derivatives of coumarin, such as esculetin, dicumarol, and fraxetin, was studied in the methemalbumin-H2O2-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) pseudoperoxidase system at 20 degrees C in a buffered physiological solution (pH 7.4) containing 6% DMF and 0.25% DMSO. The inhibitor's efficiency was quantitatively characterized by the inhibition constants (K(i), microM) and the inhibition degree (%). The K(i) values for esculetin, dicumarol, and fraxetin were 9.5, 15, and 26 microM, respectively. Esculetin and fraxetin inhibited pseudoperoxidase oxidation of TMB in a noncompetitive manner; dicumarol, in a mixed manner. The inhibiting activity ofesculetin in peroxidase-catalyzed TMB oxidation at pH 6.4 is characterized by a K(i) value equal to 1.15 microM, and the inhibition process is competitive. Esculetin was found to be the most effective antioxidant of plant origin among all derivatives previously studied in model biochemical systems.