GENERATION OF SINGLET OXYGEN AND HYDROXYL RADICAL FROM SODIUM-CHLORITE AND LACTIC-ACID

Reperfusion of ischemic tissue is associated with the formation of hydroxyl radical (OH . ). In this report, a novel mechanism for (OH . ) generation from (O-1(2)) is proposed based on the experimental evidence from the present study. A number of experiments were performed which conclusively demonstrated the formation of O-1(2), from the reaction of lactic acid and hypohalite radical. Singlet oxygen attacks the unsaturated olefinic derivatives, which are also formed during reperfusion of ischemic tissue. The reaction between O-1(2), and olefinic compounds produces hydroperoxides, which ultimately form OH . radical. The validity of the above mechanism of OH . radical formation is warranted from our experimental results.