The effect of melanins on oxidation of lecithin in liposomal membranes.

Lecithin peroxidation in liposomal membranes induced by UV light was studied in the presence of natural eye melanin and synthetic melanins prepared from various precursors. It was shown that melanins inhibited lecithin photooxidation, and that the extent of this effect strongly depended on the type and concentration of melanin. Comparative study indicated that melanin obtained from adrenolutin was the most effective antioxidant. The ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation depends both on the concentration of paramagnetic centers in the melanin polymer and the accessibility of these centers for free radicals formed during irradiation of liposomes.