Prooxidant action of rosmarinic acid: transition metal-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species.

Rosmarinic acid and its constituent caffeic acid produced reactive oxygen species in the presence of transition metals. Complex of rosmarinic acid or caffeic acid with iron inactivated aconitase the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress. The inactivation of aconitase was iron-dependent, and prevented by TEMPOL, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, suggesting that the rosmarinic acid/iron-mediated generation of superoxide anion is responsible for the inactivation of aconitase. Direct spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion confirmed the rosmarinic acid/iron-dependent production of reactive oxygen species. Treatment of DNA from plasmid pBR322 and calf thymus with rosmarinic acid plus copper caused strand scission and formed 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid showed a potent activity that reduces transition metals. These results suggest that transition metals reduced by rosmarinic acid can form superoxide radical by one electron reduction of oxygen molecule: superoxide radical in turn converts to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical causing the formation of DNA base adduct. Cytotoxicity of rosmarinic acid may be related to the prooxidant action resulting from metal-reducing activity.

Prooxidant action of rhodizonic acid: transition metal-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species causing the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation in DNA.

Rhodizonic acid, a six-membered cyclic hydroxyquinone, produced reactive oxygen species as a complex with transition metals. Addition of rhodizonic acid with ferrous ion caused an inactivation of aconitase the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress in permeabilized yeast cells. The iron-dependent inactivation of aconitase implies the rhodizonic acid/iron-mediated generation of reactive oxygen species. Spectrophotometric analysis of the interaction of rhodizonic acid with FeSO4 showed that addition of superoxide dismutase could inhibit the oxidation of rhodizonic acid, suggesting that reactive oxygen species produced from rhodizonic acid is superoxide radical. Rhodizonic acid further acted as a prooxidant causing a copper-dependent DNA damage. Treatment of DNA from plasmid pBR322 and calf thymus with rhodizonic acid plus copper caused strand scission and the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Addition of catalase protected DNA from the rhodizonic acid-mediated strand scission, indicating that hydroxyl radical may participate in the DNA damage. Rhodizonic acid also showed a potent copper-reducing activity. These results indicate that copper ion reduced by rhodizonic acid may participate in the formation of superoxide radical that converts to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical. Other cyclic hydroxyquinones such as four-membered squaric acid and five-membered croconic acid did not show any prooxidant and reducing effects. Cytotoxic effects of tetrahydroquinone the precursor of rhodizonic acid may be related to the prooxidant properties of rhodizonic acid formed in cells.

Generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of apoptosis of HL60 cells by ingredients of traditional herbal medicine, Sho-saiko-to.

The prooxidant and apoptosis-inducing effects of Sho-saiko-to, a traditional Sino-Japanese herbal medicine and its active ingredients were analyzed. Among the components of Sho-saiko-to, wogon, the extract of Scutellaria and licorice root extract induced apoptosis of HL60 cells and increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species. Lower concentrations (5 to 20 muM) of baicalein, the principal flavonoid in the Scutellaria root extract, showed induction of cell apoptosis and elevated the intracellular reactive oxygen species. However, the increase in the concentrations of baicalein rather inhibited the induction of apoptosis and the elevated levels of reactive oxygen species in cells. Induction of baicalein-mediated apoptosis was inhibited by addition of Tempol, the scavenger of reactive oxygen species. Glycyrrhetinic acid, an ingredient of licorice root extract, also induced apoptosis followed by increase in the intracellular reactive oxygen species. The effect of Sho-saiko-to on cell differentiation can be explained by the action of two ingredients, baicalein and glycyrrhetinic acid, which cause apoptosis and increase in reactive oxygen species in cells.

Inhibitory action of eugenol compounds on the production of nitric oxide in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Effects of eugenol compounds on the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 macrophages were analyzed in relation to the anti-inflammatory action of these compounds. Eugenol and isoeugenol inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-dependent production of NO, which was due to the inhibition of protein synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Isoeugenol showed the most effective inhibitory effect and eugenol was less effective. LPS-dependent expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein was also inhibited markedly by isoeugenol, and less effectively by eugenol. Anti-inflammatory action of eugenol compounds may be explained by the inhibition of NO production and COX-2 expression, the pro-inflammatory mediators.

Involvement of peroxynitrite in capsaicin-induced apoptosis of C6 glioma cells.

Capsaicin induces apoptosis in some types of cells, but its mechanism remains obscure. In this study, peroxynitrite, a powerful oxidant generated from the reaction of superoxide and nitric oxide (NO) in biological system, was demonstrated to be responsible for capsaicin-mediated apoptosis in C6 glioma cells. Capsaicin-induced apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and also identified by Annexin V staining and comet assay. Capsazepine and ruthenium red, the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1/TPRV1) antagonists, did not inhibit capsaicin-induced apoptosis. Exposure to capsaicin not only promoted the generation of superoxide and iNOS, but also markedly suppressed the expression of SODs. Nitrite and nitrate, the NO metabolites accumulated in the medium, and the nitrotyrosine was also increased in proteins of C6 glioma cells exposed to capsaicin. Pretreatment of cells with 4 microM ebselen (a peroxynitrite scavenger) showed effective inhibitory effect on the capsaicin-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that peroxynitrite can act as a potential mediator in the capsaicin-induced apoptosis in C6 glioma cells.

Rosmarinic acid inhibits the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Antioxidant action of Rosmarinic acid (Ros A), a natural phenolic ingredient in many Lamiaceae herbs such as Perilla frutescens, sage, basil and mint, was analyzed in relation to the Ikappa-B activation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Ros A inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein synthesis induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and also effectively suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced superoxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Peroxynitrite-induced formation of 3-nitrotyrosine in bovine serum albumin and RAW264.7 macrophages were also inhibited by Ros A. Moreover, Western blot analysis demonstrated that LPS-induced phosphorylation of Ikappa-Balpha was abolished by Ros A. Ros A can act as an effective protector against peroxynitrite-mediated damage, and as a potent inhibitor of superoxide and NO synthesis; the inhibition of the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are partly based on its ability to inhibit the serine phosphorylation of Ikappa-Balpha.

Prooxidant action of hinokitiol: hinokitiol-iron dependent generation of reactive oxygen species.

Hinokitiol (alpha-thujaplicin, 2-hydroxy-4-isopropyl-2,4,6-cycloheptatrien-1-one), one of the tropolone compounds purified from the woods of Chamaecyparis and Thujopsis (hinoki and hiba), produced reactive oxygen species as a complex with transition metals. Hinokitiol/iron complex inactivated aconitase, the most sensitive enzyme to reactive oxygen, whereas it did not affect aldolase and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The inactivation of aconitase was iron-dependent, and prevented by TEMPOL, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and superoxide dismutase, suggesting that the hinokitiol/iron-mediated generation of superoxide anion is responsible for the inactivation of aconitase. Addition of hinokitiol effectively enhanced the ascorbate/copper-mediated formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Cytotoxic effect of hinokitiol can be explained by its prooxidant properties: hinokitiol/transition metal complex generates reactive oxygen species causing inactivation of aconitase and production of hydroxyl radical resulting in the formation of DNA base adduct.

Prooxidant activity of curcumin: copper-dependent formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA and induction of apoptotic cell death.

Curcumin, a well-known antioxidant in a principal ingredient of turmeric, acted as a prooxidant causing a copper-dependent DNA damage and the induction of apoptosis. Treatment of DNA from plasmid pBR322 and calf thymus with curcumin plus copper ion caused strand scission and the formation of 8-hydroxy-2(')-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Addition of catalase protected DNA from the curcumin-dependent injuries, indicating that hydroxyl radical may participate in the DNA damage. Flow cytometry analysis showed that curcumin caused an apoptotic cell death of HL60 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Curcumin-mediated apoptosis was closely related to the increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species. On the contrary, capsaicinoids, which have a ortho-methoxy phenolic structure without beta-diketone in the side chain, did not produce 8-hydroxy-2(')-deoxyguanosine. Capsaicin further did not induce apoptosis of HL60 cells, but rather protected cells from prooxidant-induced apoptosis. Curcumin can generate reactive oxygen species as a prooxidant in the presence of transition metals in cells, resulting in DNA injuries and apoptotic cell death. The prooxidant action of curcumin may be related to the conjugated beta-diketone structure of this compound.

Differential effects of polyamine on the cytosolic and mitochondrial NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenases.

Two isozymes of NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases (EC 1.1.1.42) exist in mammalian tissues: mitochondrial (ICD1) and cytosolic (ICD2). Effects of polyamines such as spermine, spermidine, and putrescine on the cytosolic and mitochondrial NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenases were analyzed kinetically. Spermine activated ICD2, the cytosolic NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase from rat liver with the increase in the maximal velocity and the decrease in the affinity for the substrates isocitrate and NADP. The activating action of spermine can be explained by "the uncompetitive effect," and the dissociation constant of spermine for the enzyme-substrate complex was determined to be 1.68 mM. Spermidine and putrescine showed little or no effect. ICD1, the mitochondrial form of NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase from rat and porcine heart was inhibited by spermine effectively, and by spermidine and putrescine to a lesser extent. Spermine inhibited the enzyme competitively with respect to NADP, and noncompetitively with respect to isocitrate. K(i) value of the enzyme for spermine was 1.3 mM. These results suggest that activation by spermine of cytosolic NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase can enhance the antioxidant activity by regeneration of GSH, and further is responsible for the stimulation of lipid biosynthesis in cytosol. Spermine may contribute to NADPH supply by enhancing transhydrogenase (EC1.6.1.2) activity through the spermine-dependent activation of Ca(2+) -incorporation to mitochondria.

Effect of hydroxy substituent on the prooxidant action of naphthoquinone compounds.

Prooxidant activity of naphthoquinone compounds was analyzed by lipid peroxidation, and the formation of base adduct in DNA. Naphthoquinones with electron-repelling hydroxyl group in the benzene moiety such as juglone and shikonin of lower concentrations stimulated the microsomal lipid peroxidation, but lawsone and lapachol with hydroxyl group in the quinone moiety did not enhance the formation of lipid peroxides. Naphthoquinone-dependent lipid peroxidation was closely related to the enhancement of Fe(2+) autooxidation. Treatment of DNA with juglone a representative of 5-hydroxylated naphthoquinone stimulated the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, whereas lawsone and lapachol showed negligible formation of DNA base adduct. ESR spectra showed that juglone can form semiquinone radical in the presence of ferrous ion, but lawsone cannot. Biological toxicity of juglone with the potent electron-repelling group at 5-position may be due to the reactive oxygen species formed by semiquinone radical, but naphthoquinone compounds with an electron-repelling group in the quinone moiety, lawsone shows weak toxicity with only a little ability producing reactive oxygen species by the negligible formation of semiquinone.

Prooxidant action of xanthurenic acid and quinoline compounds: role of transition metals in the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhanced formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA.

Xanthurenic acid, a product of tryptophan-NAD pathway, and quinoline compounds produced reactive oxygen species as a complex with iron. Aconitase, the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress was inactivated effectively by xanthurenic acid and to a lesser extent by 8-quinolinol in the presence of ferrous sulfate. The inactivation of aconitase was iron-dependent, and was prevented by TEMPOL, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, suggesting that reduced iron bound to xanthurenic acid or 8-quinolinol can activate oxygen molecule to form superoxide radical. However, kynurenic acid and quinaldic acid without 8-hydroxyl group did not produce reactive oxygen species. Of the quinoline compounds tested, xanthurenic acid and 8-quinolinol with 8-hydroxyl group stimulated the autooxidation of ferrous ion, but kynurenic acid and quinaldic acid did not affect the oxidation of ferrous ion. Hydroxyl group at 8-positions of quinoline compounds was essential for the binding of iron causing the generation of reactive oxygen species. 8-Quinolinol effectively enhanced the ascorbate/copper-mediated formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA, suggesting the quinolinol/copper-dependent stimulation hydroxyl radical formation. Xanthurenic acid and 8-quinolinol as the metal-chelate complexes can show various cytotoxic effects by generating reactive oxygen species through the ferrous or cuprous ion-dependent activation of oxygen molecule.

Prooxidant action of maltol: role of transition metals in the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhanced formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine formation in DNA.

Maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) produced reactive oxygen species as a complex with transition metals. Maltol/iron complex inactivated aconitase the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress. The inactivation of aconitase was iron-dependent, and prevented by TEMPOL, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, suggesting that the maltol/iron-mediated generation of superoxide anion is responsible for the inactivation of aconitase. Addition of maltol effectively enhanced the ascorbate/copper-mediated formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in DNA. Oxidation of ascorbic acid by CuSO(4) was effectively stimulated by addition of maltol, and the enhanced oxidation rate was markedly inhibited by the addition of catalase and superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that maltol can stimulate the copper reduction coupled with the oxidation of ascorbate, resulting in the production of superoxide radical which in turn converts to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical. Cytotoxic effect of maltol can be explained by its prooxidant properties: maltol/transition metal complex generates reactive oxygen species causing the inactivation of aconitase and the production of hydroxyl radical causing the formation of DNA base adduct.