The effects of t~-tocopherol and solusulfonum on LPO and plasma antioxidant activity were compared in Wistar rats. The data attest to a pronounced antioxidant effect and synergy of these preparations.Key Words: antioxidant activity; LPO, solusulfonum; t~-tocopherol Stability of total antioxidant activity (AOA) in tissues, its peculiarity in each organ, and the intensity of free radical oxidation (FRO) are the basic indices of homeostasis [3]. Changes of these indices are essential for the pathogenesis of some diseases [4]. Since application of antioxidants as nonspecific therapeutic agents modulates the interaction between the antioxidant mechanisms and FRO processes, the specificity of the action of natural and synthetic antioxidants needs to be studied.Numerous works of the last decades established the key role of biological antioxidants in protective and adaptive reactions of the organism, which can be explained by their capacity to regulate the state of cell membranes [1][2][3][4]. A particular role in this regulation is played by t~-tocopherol, which participates in maintaining FRO at a physiological level. According to the antioxidant theory, ~-tocopherol acts as a biological antioxidant by inactivating free radicals thereby preventing the development of nonenzymatic free radical peroxidation of unsaturated lipids in tissues with molecular oxygen [7].Some antibacterial preparations, in particular sulfones, used as antilepric drugs possess antioxidant properties and can affect LPO [6]. They are also used in the treatment of other infectious diseases and are the drugs of choice in the treatment of herpetiform (Duhring's) dermatitis. However. it is not clear whether the therapeutic effect of sulfones depends on their antioxidant properties. Our aim was to compare the [nstitute of Lepra, Astrakhan antioxidant effects of solusulfonum and t~-tocopherol under the normal physiological conditions,
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study was carried out on male Wistar rats weighing 200 g. The intensity of AOA and the content of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) were determined in rats treated with c~-tocopherol (10% oil solution, 20 mg/kg) and solusulfonum (25 and 125 mg/kg). The rats were divided into five groups (7 rats per group). Group 1 was control. Group 2 rats received (~-tocopherol in a dose of 20 mg/kg, groups 3 and 4 rats received solusulfonum in doses of 25 and 125 mg/kg, respectively, and group 5 rats received solusulfonum (125 mg/kg) and ~-tocopherol (20 mg/kg). Water solution of solusulfonum was injected intramuscularly 2 times a week. while o~-tocopherol was given perorally according to the same scheme. After 3 weeks the rats were decapitated, and the blood was collected. Plasma AOA activity was measured in a model system of yolk lipoprotein oxidation [5] by the concentrations of TBAactive agents using Biokont TBK kits. The data were statistically analyzed using Student's t test.