Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Benfotiamine in Nitrite-induced Hemoglobin Oxidation and Membrane Fragility Models

ABSTRACT

Free radical formation in heme proteins is recognized as a factor in mediating the toxicity of many chemicals. The present study was designed to evaluate the dose-response relationship of the free
radical scavenging properties of benfotiamine in nitrite-induced Hb oxidation. Different concentrations of
benfotiamine were added at different time intervals of Hb oxidation in erythrocytes lysate, and formation of methemoglobin (MetHb) was monitored spectrophotometrically; the same approach was utilized to
evaluate the effect of benfotiamine on the integrity of erythrocytes after induction of hemolysis with
sodium nitrite. Moreover, the most effective dose of tested compound was administered in rats before
challenge with a toxic dose of sodium nitrite. The results showed that in both in vitro and in vivo models,
benfotiamine successfully attenuates Hb oxidation after challenge with sodium nitrite; this protective effect was found to be not related to the catalytic stage of Hb oxidation, though such an effect was reported to be more prominent when the compound was administered before nitrite. In conclusion, benfotiamine can effectively, in a concentration-dependent pattern, attenuate sodium nitrite-induced Hb oxidation and maintain the integrity of red blood cells both in vitro and in vivo.

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Professor Saad Abdulrahman Hussain

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