ABSTRACT
Nitecapone [3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-2,4-pentanedione] is a catechol derivative with both catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitory and gastroprotective properties. This chapter reviews the efficacy of nitecapone in protecting heart tissue against ischemia-reperfusion injury to support the hypothesis that nitecapone or its related compounds could be useful therapeutic agents against free-radical dependent pathological conditions. Nitecapone scavenges superoxide anion, as demonstrated by monitoring the reduction of cytochrome c by superoxide anion generated by dimethyl sulfoxide plus NaOH. Nitecapone has been suggested as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals. By monitoring the effect of nitecapone on the peroxyl radical-dependent increase in luminol chemiluminescence, it has been shown that nitecapone effectively quenches peroxyl radicals generated in hydrophilic solution. The ability of nitecapone to bind transition metals has been tested by using immobilized metal-ion-affinity chromatography. Catechol derivatives may be good scavengers of nitric oxide generated in vitro from acellular and cellular systems.
