Iron chelators and free radical scavengers in naturally occurring polyhydroxylated 1,4-naphthoquinones.

The cardioprotective effect of polyhydroxylated 1,4-naphthoquinones on the experimental model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion has been demonstrated previously. In this study, using different models, such as bulk organic phase, liposomes and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles, we have shown the ability of naturally occurring polyhydroxynaphthoquinones, echinochrome (Ech), spinochromes C, D and E (SpC, SpD and SpE) to inhibit free-radical oxidation induced by heme iron (hemin) or by free iron ions (in ferrous/ascorbate system). The polyhydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (PHNQs) were more effective in inhibiting the phosphatidyl choline liposome peroxidation induced by ferrous/ascorbate than that induced by hemin. The iron chelating ability of PHNQs was determined spectrophotometrically. Prevention of the ferrous/ascorbate-induced leakage of calcium by Ech was demonstrated in isolated SR vesicles from rabbit skeletal muscle. The PHNQs displayed high scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. We concluded that iron chelation predominates in the overall antioxidant potential of the polyhydroxynaphthoquinones.