Reactions of oxyphenbutazone with active oxygen species

The ability of Oxyphenbutazone (a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug) to react with singlet oxygen and superoxide anions, possible mediators of the damage to the lipids of the cell membranes during inflammation was studied. Oxyphenbutazone inhibited the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium in aerobic riboflavin-photosensitized oxidation of methionine, but did not influence the cytochrome C-reduction by superoxide-generating system xanthine-xanthine oxidase. Oxyphenbutazone was photooxidized in the presence of Rose Bengal, the latter being a photosensitizer. The increase of the reaction rate of Oxyphenbutazone-oxidation in D2O as compared to H2O, as well as the inhibition of oxidation by singlet oxygen-quencher sodium azide confirmed the participation of singlet oxygen in this process. It was found that Oxyphenbutazone reacted with singlet oxygen, but did not react with superoxide anions. This was supported by the observed protection of erythrocyte membranes from the hemolytic action of the singlet oxygen-generating system Rose Bengal + light.