THE EFFECT OF ROXITHROMYCIN ON THE GENERATION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN-VITRO

The effect of roxithromycin (ROM), a new oral semisynthetic macrolide, on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), using human neutr ophils and a cell-free, xanthine-xanthine oxidase system was examined. The species investigated were the superoxide radical anion (O-2(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and the hydroxyl radical (OH .). ROM effecti vely inhibited the generation of O-2(-), H2O2 and OH . by human neutro phils. On the other hand, the drug did not markedly affect the ROS lev els generated in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. The present stu dy indicates that ROM may exert an anti-inflammatory action by inhibit ing neutrophil oxygen radical generation at the sites of inflammation.