Relative metabolism of quinones to semiquinone radicals in xanthine oxidase system.

Rates of enzymatic single-electron reduction of some myotoxic quinones to semiquinone metabolites in an in vitro xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine/catalase system varied widely. Naphthoquinones, especially juglone, were found to undergo rapid single-electron reduction. Benzoquinones and benzoquinoneimines, as well as phenanthrene-9,10-quinone, benzo[a]pyrene-3,6-quinone, and diethylstilbestrolquinone, were also actively reduced. The anthraquinones danthron, doxorubicin and emodin were poorly metabolized in this system. N-Acetylcysteine inhibited quinone-stimulated cytochrome C reduction at high concentrations. The results of this study are discussed with respect to cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of selected quinones.