The antioxidative activity of the mucoregulatory agents: ambroxol, bromhexine and N-acetyl-L-cysteine. A pulse radiolysis study

Life Sci. 1996;59(14):1141-7. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(96)00431-6.

Abstract

Ambroxol and bromhexine are shown to be scavengers of both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals as determined by pulse radiolysis experiments. The dismutation of superoxide was accelerated 3-fold by bromhexine and 2.5-fold by ambroxol over the rate of spontaneous dismutation. The reaction constants of hydroxyl radicals with bromhexine and ambroxol were determined by competition kinetics to be 1.58 +/- 0.15 x 10(10) M-1S-1 and 1.04 +/- 0.1 x 10(10) M-1S-1, respectively. N-acetyl-L-cysteine also reacted with hydroxyl radicals (1.28 +/- 0.14 x 10(10) M-1S-1) but not with superoxide radical. These effects may be clinically relevant in the treatment of oxidant-associated lung damage induced by inflammatory agents and/or environmental pollutants.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / chemistry
  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology*
  • Ambroxol / chemistry
  • Ambroxol / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Bromhexine / chemistry
  • Bromhexine / pharmacology*
  • Expectorants / chemistry
  • Expectorants / pharmacology*
  • Hydroxyl Radical / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Pulse Radiolysis*
  • Superoxides / chemistry

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Expectorants
  • Superoxides
  • Ambroxol
  • Hydroxyl Radical
  • Bromhexine
  • Acetylcysteine