The Mechanism of DNA Strand Scissions Induced by Brazilin : Involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species and Cu(II)/Cu(I) Redox Cycling

  • Published : 2003.04.01

Abstract

Brazilin is the phenolic compound isolated from the Caesalpinia sappan. This compound has shown a wide range of physiological properties, such as hypoglycemic, anticonvulsant, vasorelaxing, and immunomodulating effects. In this study, we have found that brazilin induced DNA strand scissions in the presence of Cu(II) and this DNA cleavages were mediated by reactive oxygen species. (omitted)

Keywords