Antioxidative effect of protoporphyrin on lipid peroxidation in rat liver subcellular fractions

Evaluation of Antioxidative Activity of Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb Leaves on Non-lipid Oxidative Damage

Present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative activity of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves on non-lipid oxidative damage. The antioxidative activity of methanolic (MeOH) extract of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves on non-lipid oxidation, including liposome oxidation, deoxyribose oxidation, protein oxidation, chelating activity against metal ions, scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide, scavenging activity against hydroxyl radical and 2'-deoxyguanosine (2'-dG) oxidation were investigated. The MeOH extract of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves exhibited high antioxidative activity in the liposome model system. Deoxyribose peroxidation was inhibited by the MeOH extract of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves and MeOH extract of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves provided remarkable protection against damage to deoxyribose. Protective effect of MeOH extracts of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves on protein damage was observed at 600 µg level (82.05%). The MeOH extracts of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves at 300 µg revealed metal binding ability (32.64%) for hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, the oxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine (2'-dG) to 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-2'dG) was inhibited by MeOH extracts of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves and scavenging activity for hydroxyl radical exhibited a remarkable effect. From the results in the present study on biological model systems, we concluded that MeOH extract of the Agrimonia pilosa-Ledeb leaves was effective in the protection of non-lipids against various oxidative model systems.

The pro- and antioxidant properties of protoporphyrin IX

The effect of protoporphyrin on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes was investigated in the presence and absence of light. Protoporphyrin and light stimulated Fe(3+)-ADP/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation, whereas Fe(3+)-ADP/NADPH-mediated lipid peroxidation was inhibited. In the dark, on the other hand, protoporphyrin inhibited lipid peroxidation in both systems in a concentration-dependent manner. Protoporphyrin did not affect the reduction of the Fe(3+)-ADP complex by ascorbate, nor did it affect the activity of the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase under these conditions. Uroporphyrin, a hydrophilic porphyrin and not localized in the membrane, did not inhibit lipid peroxidation in the dark in these systems, whereas bilirubin, a well-known radical scavenger and degradation product of protoporphyrin, inhibited lipid peroxidation in both systems. When peroxyl radicals were generated in solution by the azocompound 2,2'-azobis (2-amidino-propane)dihydrochloride lipid peroxidation was inhibited by both porphyrins and bilirubin. Reaction of bilirubin or protoporphyrin, in the presence of microsomes or human serum albumin, with these peroxyl radicals resulted in degradation of both compounds, which could be determined by a decrease in their absorbance at 460 or 407 nm, respectively. These results indicate that the inhibition of lipid peroxidation is most likely caused by scavenging of peroxyl radicals by protoporphyrin. Massive accumulation of protoporphyrin occurs in livers of erythropoietic protoporphyria patients. The fact that protoporphyrin was able to inhibit lipid peroxidation completely at micromolar concentrations also indicates that the deleterious effects of protoporphyrin, observed in these patients, are most likely not mediated by oxidation of lipids.

Pharmaceutics and drug delivery aspects of heme and porphyrin therapy

The importance of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins as therapeutic drugs has increased significantly over the last decade. This review highlights some of the challenges faced by pharmaceutical scientists in formulating these drugs into stable, effective, and safe dosage forms. Most activity in the clinic has focused on three areas: photodynamic therapy of cancer (e.g., hematoporphyrin derivatives), porphyrias and hematological diseases (e.g., heme), and various forms of jaundice (e.g., tin porphyrins). The biodistribution, stability, aggregation, toxicology, and analytical methodology of porphyrin drugs are all important considerations in the pharmaceutical development of porphyrin drugs. The utility of delivery systems such as liposomes hold promise of increasing the therapeutic potential of these drugs. Future prospects for therapeutic applications of porphyrin drugs are also discussed.