Antioxidant properties of deferoxamine

Deferoxamine, a natural trihydroxamate, was tested for its antioxidant properties. A significant antioxidant effect was detected in linoleic and linolenic acid suspensions, as well as in linoleic acid and fish oil emulsions. Its antioxidant activity was compared to that of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and quercetin. In both emulsions and suspensions, the antioxidant effect of deferoxamine was in the same concentration range of BHA and quercetin. The antioxidant effect of deferoxamine in emulsions was lower than that of BHA. The effect of 0.770 mM deferoxamine in suspensions was the same as that of 0.555 mM BHA. Deferoxamine antioxidant activity in these systems was independent of its capability to bind iron. Inhibition of β-carotene degradation in linoleic acid-Tween 40 emulsion was lower than that of BHA. Deferoxamine inhibited the activity of soy lipoxygenase. The inhibition of lipoxygenase was reversible, but its mechanism is still unknown.