The assessment of the HO. scavenging action of therapeutic agents.

A new method is reported for the assessment of the HO. scavenging action of therapeutic agents. It is based on the photolysis of zinc oxide and has a detection limit of 3.3%. The scavenging order of the compounds tested was penicillamine > rentiapril > ascorbic acid > cysteine > glutathione > thiomalic acid > N-acetylcysteine > myocrysin > methionine. None were as effective as DMSO. It is argued that these compounds can have an in vivo protective effect where HO. is produced from oxidant producing cells, thus limiting radical induced damage.