Comparative antioxidant activities of propranolol, nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem against sarcolemmal membrane lipid peroxidation.

The antiperoxidative activities of nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem were compared with that of propranolol by using an in vitro model of sarcolemmal membrane lipid peroxidation. Highly purified sarcolemmal membranes, isolated from canine ventricular myocytes, were peroxidized by a superoxide anion-producing and iron-catalyzed free radical-generating system (dihydroxy-fumarate plus FeCl3 and ADP). Lipid peroxidation after 20 minutes of incubation was monitored by malondialdehyde formation. Similar to propranolol, all three calcium blockers exhibited concentration-dependent (10-400 microM) inhibitory effects against sarcolemmal lipid peroxidation. The order of potency of these agents was nifedipine greater than propranolol greater than verapamil greater than diltiazem. Nifedipine, the most effective calcium blocker, was greater than twofold more potent than propranolol and achieved a significant effect at 10 microM. This study suggests that calcium blockers may provide antiperoxidative protection to cardiac membranes.