Iron compounds Allopurinol

Two forms of xanthine oxidoreductase namely XO and XDH are present in many human and animal cells and plasma, XDH and XO are the predominant species in cytoplasma and serum, respectively [39]. Damaging effects of XO-catalyzed superoxide production in post-ischemic tissues were demonstrated by many authors. For example, Chambers et al. [40] and Hearse et al. [41] have shown that the suppression of superoxide production by the administration of XO inhibitor allopurinol or SOD resulted in the reduction of infarct size in the dog and of the incidence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in the rat. Similarly, Charlat et al. [42] has also shown that allopurinol improved the recovery of the contractile function of reperfused myocardium in the dog. However, the use of allopurinol as the XO inhibitor has been questioned because this compound may affect oxygen radical formation not only as a XO inhibitor but as well as free radical scavenger [43]. Smith et al. [44] also showed that gastric mucosal injury depends on the oxygen radical production catalyzed by XO and iron. 

Xanthine oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of hypox-anthine and xanthine to uric acid. Xanthine oxidase is a complex metalloflavoprotein containing one molybdenum, one FAD and two iron-sulfur centers of the ferredoxine type in each of its two independent subunits. Usually, the enzyme is isolated from cow s milk. The enzyme is inhibited by allopurinol and related compounds. The production of uric acid from the substrate (xanthine) can be determined by measuring the change in optical density in the UV range. 

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