THE EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANTS ON THE KINETICS OF CHAIN LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN LIPOSOMES

To elucidate the mechanism of action of various antioxidants, we studi ed the kinetics of chemiluminescence accompanying phospholipid liposom es peroxidation, induced by divalent iron ions in the presence of C-52 5, a chemiluminescence activator. EDTA and desferal reduced of the che miluminescence latent period, which, probably, resulted from chelating the Fe2+ ions, which thus drop out of reactions of chain oxidation in a lipid phase. Ascorbate, on the contrary, increased the chemilumines cence latent period, apparentlym as a result of regeneration of divale nt iron that was oxidized during lipid peroxidation. Under the action of alpha-tocopherol and rutin, the amplitude of the chemiluminescence slow flash decreased along with the increase in the latent period dura tion. beta-carotene displayed its effects only in a rather high concen tration, at which the observed decrease in the chemiluminescence inten sity could be caused (at least partially) by reabsorpion of CL by this compound. No changes in the latent period duration were observed in t hese experiments.