Quercetin reduces prooxidant action of organometallic compounds on liposome membranes irradiated with UV

We studies the effects of UV radiation on the degree of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposome membrane oxidation in the presence of such toxic organometallic compounds (TOC) as diphenyltin dichloride (DPhT), triphenyltin chloride (TPhT), dibutyltin dichloride (DBT), tributyltin chloride (TBT), triphenyllead chloride (TPhL) and tributyllead chloride (TBL). PC liposome oxidation was also investigated in the presence of quercetin (Que) and equimolar mixtures of Que and TOC in order to determine the protective properties of this natural antioxidant with respect to liposome membrane oxidation induced by UV light. Concentration of the compounds studies was 10 muM. The degree of liposome oxidation was measured using TBARS (Thiobarbitutric Reactive Substances) test. The sequence thus obtained of relative induction of PC oxidation due to TOC was as follows: TBT > TPht congruent to DBT > DPht congruent to TPhl > TBL. The results of studies with Que indicate its high efficacy in the antioxidative action of equimolar mixtures of Que and TOC. From our study it follows that quercetin forms complexes both with phenyl- and butyl- tin and lead compounds. A high antiradical (towards DPPH radical) activity of the associates with respect to the activity of quercetin alone was also found. This result can partly explain the antioxidative properties of Que in the studies solution, connected with their antiradical action and chelating possibility towards the organometallic compounds studied. A factor that differentiates the antioxidant activity of the complexes Que-TOC is probably their differentiated locaiton in the liposome membrane bilayer.