The Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry

2003

Volume 3, Number 3/4, pp. 85–88

 

Z. Kuchukashvili, G. Davitaia, I. Gorozia, G. Kvesitadze, E. Lomidze and G. Khatisashvili


Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 2 University St, 0128 Tbilisi, Georgia

Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Georgian Academy of Science,s D. Agmasheneblis Kheivani 10 km, 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia

 

Antioxidant characteristics of phenolic compounds of Satureia hortensis

 

The antioxidant characteristics of the phenolic water fraction of the annual plant Satureia hortensis have been studied. Rabbit liver microsomes served as the oxidative system and arachidonic acid as a substrate. By administering carbon monoxide, NADPH and dimethylaniline the participation of cytochrome P450-dependent monoöxygenase in the oxidation process was examined. Aspirin and phenolic compounds of Satureia hortensis were used to study other oxidative systems of rabbit liver microsomes characterized by arachidonic acid consumption. The results obtained showed that arachidonic acid was oxidized in microsomes and the process was intensified in the presence of NADPH. Cytochrome P450-dependent monoöxygenase is not the only oxidizer of arachidonic acid: other oxidative systems of rabbit liver microsomes also take part in this process. The phenolic fraction of Satureia hortensis inhibits more strongly than carbon monoxide, a standard inhibitor of cytochrome P450-dependent monoöxygenase and other microsomal oxidative systems. The inhibitory effect manifested in vitro correlates with the analogous action of aspirin—one of the primary representatives of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs.

 

Keywords: arachidonic acid, cytochrome P450 monoöxygenase, inhibition, microsomes, phenolic compounds, Satureia hortensis

 

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