Stocker R, Yamamoto Y, McDonagh A F, Glazer A N, Ames B N
Science. 1987 Feb 27;235(4792):1043-6. doi: 10.1126/science.3029864.
Bilirubin, the end product of heme catabolism in mammals, is generally regarded as a potentially cytotoxic, lipid-soluble waste product that needs to be excreted. However, it is here that bilirubin, at micromolar concentrations in vitro, efficiently scavenges peroxyl radicals generated chemically in either homogeneous solution or multilamellar liposomes. The antioxidant activity of bilirubin increases as the experimental concentration of oxygen is decreased from 20% (that of normal air) to 2% (physiologically relevant concentration). Furthermore, under 2% oxygen, in liposomes, bilirubin suppresses the oxidation more than alpha-tocopherol, which is regarded as the best antioxidant of lipid peroxidation. The data support the idea of a "beneficial" role for bilirubin as a physiological, chain-breaking antioxidant.
胆红素是哺乳动物血红素分解代谢的终产物，通常被认为是一种具有潜在细胞毒性的脂溶性废物，需要排出体外。然而，在体外微摩尔浓度下，胆红素能有效清除在均相溶液或多层脂质体中化学产生的过氧自由基。随着实验中氧气浓度从20%（正常空气浓度）降至2%（生理相关浓度），胆红素的抗氧化活性增强。此外，在2%氧气浓度下，在脂质体中，胆红素比被认为是脂质过氧化最佳抗氧化剂的α-生育酚更能抑制氧化。这些数据支持了胆红素作为一种生理性链断裂抗氧化剂具有“有益”作用的观点。
