Pro- and anti-oxidant effects of some antileprotic drugs in vitro and their influence on super oxide dismutase activity.

The effect of ofloxacin (CAS 82419-36-1), dapsone (CAS 80-08-0), rifampicin (CAS 13282-46-1) and clofazimine (CAS 2030-63-9) on the generation of superoxide anions was studied in vitro. The drugs were incubated with a superoxide generating system (photochemical reaction between riboflavin and dianisidine). The change in optical density was measured. The optical density was increased with dapsone and ofloxacin and decreased in presence of clofazimine and rifampicin. This result indicates that ofloxacin and dapsone have an antioxidant property, whereas clofazimine and rifampicin behave as pro-oxidants.