The Protective Action of Carnosine and Organic Lithium Salts against Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Damage of Blood Plasma Proteins and Lipids of Healthy Persons and Alcoholic Patients

Abstract

Organic lithium salts containing anionic components (succinate, fumarate, pyruvate) and antiox-idant ascorbate were tested for protection of blood plasma proteins and lipids against ethanol-induced oxidation in vitro. The normothymic agent lithium carbonate and well-known antioxidant dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) were used as the reference drugs. The oxidized proteins and lipids were determined by the level of carbonylated proteins (CP) and TBA-reactive substances (TBARS), respectively. In alcoholic patients the level of oxidized proteins and lipids was higher than in healthy persons. Incubation of blood with ethanol resulted in an increase in oxidized proteins and lipids in plasma of healthy persons but had no impact on the level of CP and TBARS in plasma of alcoholic patients. Lithium carbonate, lithium ascorbate, and lithium succinate exhibited protective action against ethanol-induced oxidation of biomolecules of blood plasma of healthy people. These effects were comparable with the carnosine action. The studied compounds had no effect on the level of CP and TBARS in plasma of alcoholic patients.