Anti oxy-radical properties of trimetazidine

Trimetazidine at concentrations above 100 microM competed with cytochrome c in scavenging O2.- radicals formed by the reaction catalyzed by the xanthine oxidase enzyme upon xanthine. This scavenger effect was also observed when O2.- were generated by active human neutrophils in which the rate of O2.- formation was monitored by following the reduction of cytochrome c or the emission of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. An additional scavenger effect of trimetazidine was measured in a OH. chemical generating system whereby the breakdown of deoxyribose by the thiobarbituric acid assay was detected. This study suggests that trimetazidine might function as an antioxy radical compound in conditions of increased oxy radical production.