SPONTANEOUS GENERATION OF ADRIAMYCIN SEMI-QUINONE RADICALS AT PHYSIOLOGIC PH

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 11  (5) , 405-414
Abstract
Adriamycin semiquinone radicals are spontaneously generated by adriamycin [an antineoplastic drug] solutions at physiologic pH. Rate of radical formation and equilibrium-state radical yield increase with increasing pH from 7.4-8.85. The radicals are oxygen-sensitive, but the mechanism of radical formation is oxygen-independent and associated with proton removal from the dihydroquinone of adriamycin. The less cardiotoxic and non-mutagenic (Ames test) anthracycline 5-iminodaunorubicin does not form semiquinone radicals spontaneously at physiologic pH.