Purpurogallin, a scavenger of polymorphonuclear leukocyte-derived oxyradicals.

Purpurogallin (PPG) is a phenolic compound extracted from nutgalls formed on oak trees. It has been used as an additive to edible or nonedible oils or fats, and to hydrocarbon fuels or lubricants to retard their oxidation. We investigated by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (PMNL-CL), the ability of PPG to scavenge oxygen free radicals (OFRs) generated by zymosan-activated polympophonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). Its OFR-scavenging ability was also investigated by the use of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT). We also investigated by the dye-exclusion method, if PPG affects the viability of PMNLs. PPG in the concentrations of 0.005-0.4 mM was used in this study. PPG scavenged OFRs produced by zymosan-activated PMNLs in a concentration-dependent manner. Almost complete scavenging was observed at a concentration of 0.2 mM. The NBT test indicated that PPG (0.2 mM) did not completely prevent the activation of PMNLs by zymosan. Viability of PMNLs in the absence or presence of PPG (0.4 mM) were 95.77 +/- 0.56% and 96.78 +/- 0.60% respectively. The results suggest that PPG scavenges OFRs produced from activated PMNLs in a concentration-dependent manner and that the cell viability is not affected by PPG. PPG is a potent scavenger of OFRs and should be of value in the prevention and treatment of diseases in the pathophysiology of which OFRs are invovled.