The results imply that cimetidine provides a neuroprotective effect by
binding to iron and copper, thus making them unavailable for free radical
production.

J Pharm Pharmacol. 2002 Dec;54(12):1681-6.  Related Articles, Links  

 
Cimetidine: antioxidant and metal-binding properties.

Lambat Z, Limson JL, Daya S.

Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, Box 94 Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.

Cimetidine is one of the most potent H(2) receptor antagonists for inhibiting
excessive histamine-induced acid secretion and is currently used worldwide to
treat peptic ulcers. In this study, levels of free radicals were assessed and
the ability of cimetidine to act as an antioxidant was determined using
nitroblue-tetrazolium assay and lipid peroxidation assays. Free radical
generation in the brain is promoted by the presence of iron, as occurs in the
Fenton reaction. The results show that cimetidine reduces the generation of
superoxide anion formed in the nitroblue-tetrazolium assay. In addition,
cimetidine (1 mM) is able to reduce the iron-induced rise in lipid peroxidation
in rat brain homogenates. Electrochemistry, UV/Vis spectroscopy and HPLC
experiments show metal-ligand interactions between cimetidine and transition
metals. The results imply that cimetidine provides a neuroprotective effect by
binding to iron and copper, thus making them unavailable for free radical
production.

PMID: 12542899 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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