Exploring effects of different antioxidants on dexamethasone-induced lipid peroxidation using common laboratory markers.

As a part of our ongoing effort to explore drug-induced lipid peroxidation in relation to drug-induced toxicity, our recent observations on lipid peroxidation induction potential of dexamethasone, a commonly used glucocorticoid compound in inflammatory and allergic conditions, has been presented considering lipid peroxidation a possible mediator of toxicity. An attempt was made to see the suppressive actions of some conventional antioxidant compounds, viz, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and probucol on dexamethasone-induced lipid peroxidation. It was found from the study that dexamethasone increased malondialdehyde content vis-a-vas decreased the level of reduced glutathione significantly in the liver homogenate. This suggests that dexamethasone caused a significant extent of lipid peroxidation which may be related to the toxic potential of the drug. It was further found all of the above antioxidants could suppress dexamethasone-induced lipid peroxidation to the significant extent.