High-molecular-weight hyaluronan--a valuable tool in testing the antioxidative activity of amphiphilic drugs stobadine and vinpocetine.

The antioxidative activity of stobadine and vinpocetine was studied in vitro by measuring their inhibition effect on the depolymerization of the high-molecular-weight hyaluronan by hydroxyl radicals. The radicals were generated by the Cu(2+)-H2O2 system. Hyaluronan depolymerization was monitored by means of size exclusion chromatography. The antioxidative activity of stobadine and vinpocetine was compared to that of D-mannitol. A 50% inhibition of hyaluronan depolymerization was reached at stobadine and vinpocetine concentrations of 1.7 x 10(-6) and 3.0 x 10(-7) mol l-1, respectively, while a D-mannitol level of 2.6 x 10(-3) mol l-1 was needed to achieve the same inhibitory effect.