ABSTRACT
Anthracycline drug daunomycin (DNR) is a widely used clinical drug. But its side effects, especially cardiotoxicity, have greatly restrained its application. The side effects were due to free radical formation in the metabolic process of DNR. The purpose of this study is to diminish the side effects by using antioxidants. Two kinds of free radical scavengers have been investigated, that is, vitamins: vitamin C (V(C)), rutin (V(P)) and vitamin B6 (V(B6)); amino acids: cysteine (CysH) and methionine (Met). Free radical scavenging efficiency (E degrees (eff)) of these antioxidants had been calculated. Under the experimental condition, the values of E degrees (eff) of V(C), V(P), V(B6), CysH and Met were 23.8, 15.3, 6.4, 48.2 and -7.7%, respectively. The relationship between the free radical scavenging activities and its chemical structure has also been discussed.
