Propofol reacts with peroxynitrite to form a phenoxyl radical: demonstration by electron spin resonance

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-), resulting from the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide anion, is a powerful oxidant produced in activated macrophages, during ischemia-reperfusion processes as well as in neurodegenerative disorders. This study investigated the reaction of the anesthetic agent propofol (PPF) with ONOO-, using electron spin resonance (ESR) and UV-visible spectrometry. Peroxynitrite was synthetized either from acidified hydrogen peroxide and nitrite, or from sodium azide and ozone. The addition of ONOO- to PPF in alkaline solution (pH 12) allowed to detect a, short lifetime, ESR signal corresponding to a phenoxyl radical. This finding was confirmed by a UV-visible study, resulting in the appearance of 427 nm peak and the disappearance of the peak located at 239 nm. The 291 nm peak remained unchanged. The identification of the end-product of the reaction of PPF with ONOO- needs further investigations.