Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
Published on: March 6, 2019
Antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation at the tissue level in patients with stable and active vitiligo
Ines Dammak1, Sonia Boudaya, Fatma Ben Abdallah
1Unité de Recherche, Pathologies Humaines et Stress Oxydatif, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sfax, and Servie de Dermatologie, Center Hospitalo-Universitaire, Hedi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia. inesdammak@yahoo.fr
Background:
The pathogenetic mechanisms in vitiligo have not been clarified completely. One of the major hypotheses in the pathogenesis of vitiligo is the oxidative stress hypothesis. The active and stable phases of vitiligo are defined as the progression or appearance of new lesions in the last 3 months and the absence of new lesions or progression in the last 6 months, respectively.
Methods:
We examined the levels of malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the tissues of 10 patients with active vitiligo, 10 patients with stable vitiligo, and 20 matched healthy controls.
Results:
The results revealed that the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde in tissues were increased significantly in patients with active vitiligo relative to those in patients with stable vitiligo and matched controls; however, the levels of catalase in tissues were decreased significantly in patients with active vitiligo relative to those in patients with stable vitiligo and matched controls.
Conclusions:
Our study shows that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of both active and stable vitiligo, but an increased imbalance of antioxidants is observed in the tissues of patients with active vitiligo.
Related Concept Videos
Radical Autoxidation
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Peroxisomes
Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity
