Summary.
The antioxidant action, free radical scavenging activity and pro-oxidant effect of pineal indoles were studied. Serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophol, 5-methoxytryptophol and 5-methoxytryptamine potently inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat brain, liver and kidney homogenates and hemolysis of rat erythrocytes. 5-Methoxyindole-3-acetic acid and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid potently suppressed superoxide radical formation. 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid inhibited hydroxyl radical generation. Serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid exhibited a pro-oxidant action in the bleomycin-Fe system. This study demonstrated that 5-methoxytryptamine, among the various pineal indoles tested, exhibited the most potent antioxidant action and was devoid of pro-oxidant effect. Serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-methoxytryptophol also had high antioxidative activity. By comparison melatonin had a lower antioxidant potency.
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Received April 19, 1999; accepted April 20, 2000
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Ng, T., Liu, F. & Zhao, L. Antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities of pineal indoles. J Neural Transm 107, 1243–1251 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007020070014
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007020070014