Effects of harmaline and harmalol on the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and collagen by Fe2+ and H2O2

Abstract

β-Carboline alkaloids including harmaline have been shown to inhibit enzymatically or nonenzymatically induced-lipid peroxidation of microsomes. This study was done to explore the antioxidant ability of harmaline and harmalol on the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and collagen by Fe2+ and H2O2. Their scavenging actions on reactive oxygen species were also examined. Harmaline, harmalol, superoxide dismutase, catalase and DMSO inhibited both degradation of hyaluronic acid by Fe2+ and H2O2 and lipid peroxidation of microsomes by Fe2+. In these reactions, DABCO inhibited degradation of hyaluronic acid but did not affect lipid peroxidation. β-Carbolines inhibited degradation of cartilage collagen by Fe2+, H2O2 and ascorbic acid. The reduction of ferricytochrome c due to autoxidation of Fe2+, which is inhibited by superoxide dismutase, was not affected by harmaline and harmalol. They also did not have a decomposing action on H2O2. Hydroxyl radical production in the presence of Fe2+ and H2O2 was inhibited by harmaline, harmalol and DMSO. Harmaline and harmalol may inhibit the oxidative injuries of hyaluronic acid, lipid and cartilage collagen by Fe2+ and H2O2 through their scavenging actions on reactive oxygen species, OH · and probably iron-oxygen complexes and exert antioxidant abilities.