Alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone has scavenging activity against singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and attenuates (1)O(2)-induced neuronal cell death.

Scavenging activity of alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) against singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) and its effects on (1)O(2)-induced neuronal cell death were examined. PBN at 1 - 4 mM dose-dependently suppressed (1)O(2) released from activated human neutrophils. PBN did not react with hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite and did not affect myeloperoxidase activity, which are involved in the (1)O(2) formation in neutrophils. PBN also suppressed chemically generated (1)O(2) in a cell-free system. These findings collectively indicated that PBN certainly has scavenging activity against (1)O(2). Furthermore, PBN attenuated (1)O(2)-induced neuronal cell death. The well-known neuroprotective effects of PBN might be attributed to its (1)O(2)-scavenging activity.