Study of the interaction between oxygen and bile salts.

The interaction between molecular oxygen and bile salts, previously observed using chemiluminescence techniques, is studied in this paper by electrochemical techniques to further highlight the nature of the interaction. A shift of half-wave potential of the first polarographic wave for the reduction of molecular oxygen was observed in solutions in the presence of bile salts. The shift could be related to different phenomena, such as adsorption of bile salt molecules on the mercury electrode, irreversibility of the oxygen reduction reaction, pH of the solution. Experimental results suggest the exclusion of the above mentioned processes and outline the occurrence of a direct interaction between oxygen and bile salts, where the hydrophobic face of bile salt monomers and/or small aggregates are involved, enhancing so dismutation of superoxide ion produced at the electrode. The presence of bile salts in solutions containing triphenylphosphine oxide, a hydrophobic surfactant, increases also the wave of reduction of molecular oxygen. As a consequence bile salts, beside the well-assessed physiological roles, can behave as oxygen carrier and as antioxidant, preventing the oxidation of biological compounds by superoxide ion.