Investigation of the effect of chamazulene on lipid peroxidation and free radical processes.

Oxygen toxicity and related free radical reactions are implicated in numerous pathophysiological conditions, like atherosclerosis, inflammation, gastric ulceration, neuronal degeneration, tumour promotion. The flowers of Matricaria chamomilla, Asteraceae, have been used therapeutically for conditions in which oxidative stress is supposed to be implicated. We considered interesting to investigate the effect of Chamazulene, the active substance of chamomile, on free radical processes. Membrane lipid peroxidation was induced by Fe2+/ascorbate and assessed as the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive material. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was studied as the competition of Chamazulene with DMSO for HO. generated by Fe3+/ascorbate. Finally, the interaction of Chamazulene with the N-centered stable free radical DPPH was estimated photometrically (517 nm). It was found that Chamazulene inhibited lipid peroxidation in a concentration and time dependent manner presenting an IC50 of 18 microM after 45 min incubation. It could also inhibit the autoxidation of DMSO (33 mM) by 76% at 25 mM, and had a weak capacity to interact with DPPH. In conclusion, Chamazulene presents interesting properties concerning radical processes.