Scientists from Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU) have conducted a study to find new biologically active substances with antioxidant properties, the university’s press service reported on August 5.
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or delay the formation of free radicals in a living body, which can damage cells, DNA and proteins, causing various diseases in humans, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and the aging process.
This implies the importance of studying biologically active substances with antioxidant properties and maximizing the range of such compounds, since different situations require the use of different antioxidants.
Oxygen respiration is the most important basis for the life of aerobic organisms. In the process of respiration, reactive forms of oxygen (ROS), nitrogen (ANA) and sulfur are formed, which mostly contain unpaired electrons, i.e. are radicals and are used in various physiological processes of the body.
They intervene in the transmission of signals within the cell, in the regulation of the anti-inflammatory response and are used by the cells of the immune system in the fight against pathogens.
However, the production of ROS or ROS in excessive amounts or in places other than where they occur during normal physiological processes can lead to so-called oxidative stress and cellular damage and even death.
At the Scientific and Educational Center for Applied Chemical and Biological Research of the PNRPU, studies were conducted to identify the antioxidant properties of organic substances in in vitro experiments.
Galina Triandafilova, senior lecturer at the Department of Chemical Technologies of the NPRPU, said:
“In our experiments, so-called “chemical” and biological test systems based on red blood cells were used. We studied how various organic substances reduce the level of radicals in solution or to what extent they help maintain the integrity of red blood cell walls and stop lipid peroxidation.”.
Practice has shown that different tests can reflect different mechanisms of action, so in order to obtain reliable data on the presence or absence of antioxidant activity in a substance, researchers had to conduct several tests of both types: “for presence” and “for absence”.
“We tested more than 200 substances synthesized at the PNRPU and in our partners’ laboratories and found antioxidants that were previously unknown.” – said Galina Triandafilova.
When studying the antioxidant properties of some substances, scientists encountered the problem of poor solubility of organic compounds in water, which can affect the accuracy of in vitro test results, giving false positive or false negative results.
Olga Krasnykh, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical Technologies of PNRPU, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, told about how researchers solved this problem:
“We conducted a series of experiments to optimize the method for determining antioxidant activity by adding solubilizers. (surfactants that help dissolve poorly soluble ingredients – approx. IA Krasnaya Vesna) in various concentrations and combinations with solvents”.
Her story was complemented by Valeria Maksimova, a student of the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology of the PNRPU, who participated in the experiments:
“As a result of the study, we discovered combinations that should not be used in red blood cell tests, because they destroy cell membranes, leading to incorrect results. At the same time, not only ionic surfactants, such as dodecyl sulfate, can be problematic, but also nonionic surfactants, such as TritonX. Polyethylene glycol, which is readily available, has proven to be the most suitable for use.”.
Having solved the problem of solubility, scientists from Perm Polytechnic synthesized and studied substances with different mechanisms of antioxidant action, discovering new promising compounds among the oxoderivatives of acyclic and heterocyclic compounds.
Their research expanded the field of biologically active substances studied with protective properties, which could be used to create medicines for a wide range of applications, in addition to cosmetics.
PNRPU scientists presented the results of the study in the article “Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of some nitrogen-containing heterocycles and their acyclic analogues,” published in the Indian Journal of Microbiology No. 64, 2024.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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