Study of aerobic granulocyte functional activity in the presence of a radiosensitizer [metronidazole]

The in vitro effects of metronidazole on the production of reactive oxygen species by polymorphonuclear [PMN] cells were studied by means of nitroblue tetrazolium and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. At therapeutic doses of metronidazole [4.98-24.86 microg/mL] significant inhibition of the production of reactive oxygen species was noted in both methods. The inhibitory effect was in a dose-dependent pattern. The data suggest a scavenging mechanism of metronidazole on reactive oxygen species generated by PMN