Antioxidant and lysosomotropic properties of acridine-propranolol: protection against oxidative endothelial cell injury.

The antioxidant and lysosomotropic properties of a fluorescent analogue of propranolol, 9-amino-acridine-propranolol (9-AAP) were compared to those of propranolol. Using isolated microsomal membranes exposed to a superoxide and hydroxyl radical generating system, 9-AAP was found to be at least 10-fold more potent than propranolol (and about 50% as potent as vitamin E) in inhibiting lipid peroxidation. In cultured endothelial cells, 9-AAP afforded moderate protective effect against acute loss of glutathione but potent cytoprotective activity against free radical-mediated loss of viability/survival.