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The antioxidant properties of carnitine in vitro

Abstract

Many of the effects of carnitine are ascribed to its antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of carnitine in vitro. Carnitine was found to decolorize ABTS•+, and to protect fluorescein against bleaching induced by AAPH-derived peroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite, thiol groups against oxidation induced by hydrogen peroxide, peroxyl radicals, hypochlorite and peroxynitrite, and erythrocytes against hemolysis induced by peroxyl radicals and hypochlorite. These results show that carnitine has a direct antioxidant action against physiologically relevant oxidants.

Abbreviations

AAPH:

2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride

ABTS:

2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate)

DTNB:

5,5′-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

PBS:

phosphate-buffered saline

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Correspondence to Grzegorz Bartosz.

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Solarska, K., Lewińska, A., Karowicz-Bilińska, A. et al. The antioxidant properties of carnitine in vitro . Cell Mol Biol Lett 15, 90–97 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-009-0036-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-009-0036-y

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