[Energotropic, antihypoxic, and antioxidative effects of flavonoids]

Phytogenous flavonoid-containing agents (PFCA) are able to initiate electron flow bypassing the NAD-dependent region of respiratory chain, which is related with the activity of DT-diaphorase catalyzing two-electron reduction of quinones to hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of NADH and oxygen. This property is dramatically potentiated under the conditions of suppressed electron transport function of mitochondrial enzyme complex I (MEC I). In this process, part of the flow goes to the cytochrome region of respiratory chain and provides recovery of the MEC II and MEC III coupling function. The other part forms a flow of free oxidation which can perform as an additional mechanism normalizing the cell redox potential and aimed at decreasing intracellular acidosis under the conditions of MEC I bypassing. The energotropic effect of PFCA under the conditions of blocked MEC I is best evident at low PFCA concentrations. The ratio of coupled to free oxidation in the presence of PFCA depends on PFCA concentration. At low PFCA concentrations and oxidation of NAD-dependent substrates, both pathways become potentiated to an approximately similar extent, although the coupled oxidation pathway is generally activated earlier. At high PFCA doses, the increase in free oxidation pathway predominates and may result in toxic side effects.