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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Free Radicals in Chemical Biology: from Chemical Behavior to Biomarker Development
Published on: April 15, 2013
Spontaneous generation of adriamycin semiquinone radicals at physiologic pH
Abstract:
Adriamycin semiquinone radicals are spontaneously generated by adriamycin solutions at physiologic pH. Rate of radical formation and equilibrium-state radical yield increase with increasing pH from 7.4 to 8.85. The radicals are oxygen sensitive, but the mechanism of radical formation is oxygen independent and associated with proton removal from the dihydroquinone of adriamycin. The less cardiotoxic and non-mutagenic (Ames test) anthracycline 5-iminodaunorubicin does not form semiquinone radicals spontaneously at physiologic pH.
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