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Bleaching of a preformed solution of the blue-green radical cation 2,2 -azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothizoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS + · ) has been extensively used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of complex mixtures and individual compounds. The reaction of the preformed radical with free-radical scavengers can be easily monitored by following the decay of the sample absorbance at 734 nm. The ABTS radical cation can be prepared employing different oxidants. Results obtained using MnO 2 as oxidant show that the presence of manganese ions increases the rate of [ABTS] + · autobleaching in a concentration-dependent manner. The radicals can also be obtained by oxidizing ABTS with 2,2 -azobis(2-amidinopropane)hydrochloride (AAPH) or peroxodisulfate (PDS). The oxidation by AAPH takes place with a large activation energy and a low reaction order in ABTS. The data support a mechanism in which the homolysis of AAPH is the rate-limiting step, followed by the reaction of ABTS with the peroxyl radicals produced after the azocompound thermolysis. On the other hand, the low activation energy measured employing PDS, as well as the kinetic law, are compatible with the occurrence of a bimolecular reaction between the oxidant and ABTS. Regarding the use of ABTS-based methodologies for the evaluation of free radical scavengers, radical cations obtained employing AAPH as oxidant can be used only at low temperatures, conditions where further decomposition of the remaining AAPH is minimized. The best results are obtained with ABTS derived radicals generated in the reaction of PDS with an ABTS/PDS concentration ratio equal (or higher) to two. However, even with radicals prepared by this procedure, stoichiometric coefficients considerably larger than two are obtained for the consumption of the radical cation employing tryptophane or p-terbutylphenol as reductants. This casts doubts on the use of ABTS-based procedures for the estimation of antioxidant capacities.

Low level chemiluminescence (CL) is observed after protein oxidation mediated by singlet oxygen produced in Rose Bengal (RB) irradiation. This CL lasts for several minutes after the end of the photolysis. In this work, the mechanism of the process was assessed from the spectral characteristics of the CL and the effect of antioxidants (Trolox or ascorbate), Ebselen (a compound with peroxidase-like activity), azide (a singlet oxygen scavenger) and D2O, added prior to or after RB irradiation. It is concluded that most of the light emission is due to formation of excited states generated in the decomposition of peroxides and/or hydroperoxides accumulated during the photolysis. Experiments carried out in the presence of several amino acids (Cys, Met, His, Tyr and Trp) and di- and tripeptides suggest that peroxides (and/or hydroperoxides) of Trp residues are mainly responsible for the CL observed after singlet oxygen-mediated protein oxidation. The much weaker CL observed after the oxidation of proteins without Trp residues supports this conclusion. A comparison of the results obtained employing free Trp, Ala-Trp and Trp-Ala dipeptides, Ala-Trp-Ala tripeptide and Trp-containing proteins supports the conclusion that blocking the amino group of the Trp moiety strongly increases the efficiency of the chemiluminescent process, producing approximately 2.5x10(-8) photons per oxidized Trp group in Ala-Trp. A mechanism comprising two chemiluminescent oxidation pathways of Trp residues is proposed to explain the results.

buffer/etanol > neutral micelles anionic micelles These results can be explained in terms of the compartmentalization of the reactants in different environments and the effect of electrostatic interactions in modulating the access of the urate anion to the micellar interface. Experiments aimed to determine if urate is able to react with alpha-tocopheroxyl radicals regenerating a-tocopherol were uncesessful, indicating that urate is not able to delay vitamin E consumption in the presence of lipid - soluble free radicals]]>

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