INHIBITION OF MICROSOMAL LIPID-PEROXIDATION BY BAICALEIN - A POSSIBLEFORMATION OF AN IRON-BAICALEIN COMPLEX

Baicalein decreased the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive sub stances, the rate of oxygen consumption and iron reduction in the reac tion system of ascorbic acid with FeCl3. Superoxide dismutase, catalas e and hydroxyl radical scavengers had no significant effect. Iron-chel ators had an inhibitory effect similar to that of baicalein. The produ ction of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of baicalein-treated microsomes obtained by centrifugation after incubation with baicalein was not observed in the reaction system, but was stimulated by adding iron with increases in concentration. The amount of bound iron to micr osomal membranes increased by increasing both the concentration of bai calein and iron. The amount of baicalein bound to microsomal membranes increased with increasing concentration of added baicalein. These res ults suggest that baicalein bound to microsomal membranes inhibits lip id peroxidation by formating an iron-baicalein complex.