• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.62-77
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• 1985

In tile Iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction to produce OH., the requirement for $O^{-}_{2}{\cdot}$ is only to reduce $Fe^{+++}$. Possibly, the role of $O^{-}_{2}{\cdot}$ can be replaced by other reducing agents. Ascorbate is one of them in biological system. In the present study, the ability of ascorbate to produce $OH{\cdot}$ in the presence of $Fe^{++}$ and $H_2O_2$ was investigated by observing the degradation of hyaluronic acid and ethylene production from methional. Ascorbate stimulated the degradation of hyaluronic by $Fe^{++}$ and $H_2O_2$. That was confirmed by both viscosity change and gel-permeation chromatographic analysis. The observed degradation was almost completely prevented by catalase and $OH{\cdot}$ scavengers. In support of the above results, ascorbate enhanced the prouction of ethylene from methional in the presence of $Fe^{++}$ and $H_2O_2$. Other reducing agents (cysteine, glutathione, NADH and NADPH) showed similar activities to ascorbate in the degradation of hyaluronic acid and ethylene production. But no stimulatory effects were observed with their oxidized forms such as NAD and NADP. Thus, it appears that reduction of the metal ion was needed for $OH{\cdot}$ production. Among the metal ions tested, $Fe^{++}$ showed most potent catalytic action in the production of $OH{\cdot}$ The results obtained support that ascorbate can substitute $O^{-}_{2}{\cdot}$ in the metal-catalyzed reactions, particularly with $Fe^{++}$ by which $OH{\cdot}$ is produced with $H_2O_2$. The significance of the ascorbate-dependent production of $OH{\cdot}$ was considered with respect to possible role of ascorbate in the damage of inflamed joints.