Biochemical modifications induced in human blood by oxygenation-ozonation.

Some biochemical effects determined on human blood after addition of a gas mixture composed of oxygen (approximately 96%) and ozone (approximately 4%) have been evaluated. Ozone was used in a mild concentration ranging between 0.21 and 1.68 mM. Within few minutes after rapid mixing of the equal gas-liquid volumes, the ozone was consumed because by instantaneously reacting with biomolecules, generating reactive oxygen species (particularly hydrogen peroxide) having very short lifetime and lipid oxidation products. The following results are oxygen-ozone dose dependent: (1) The pO(2) values have risen from about 40 up to 400 mmHg. (2) By testing the highest ozone concentration, the total antioxidant capacity of blood decreased within 1 min from 1.35 to 0.91 mM but regained its normal values within 20 min owing to the rapid reduction of oxidized antioxidants operated by erythrocytes. (3) Similarly, intraerythrocytic reduced glutathione after ozonation decreased from the initial value of 5.71 to 4.56 micromol/g Hb. (4) Both hemolysis and methemoglobin showed a negligible increase.