Original Article

Morphine inhibited respiratory burst of neutrophils and scavenged oxygen free radicals

Shu-yuan CHEN, Qi-lu HUO, Jian-bang HUANG, Zhi-liang CHEN, Xing-hua SHI, Xi-ling LIAO

Abstract

AIM:
To study the effects of morphine on active oxygen free radicals.
METHOD:
Chemiluminescence method was used to measure (a) active oxygen generation induced by respiratory burst of neutrophils from human blood stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), (b) Superoxide anion (O2.-) induced by xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, (c) hydroxyl radical (.OH) generated by ascorbic acid (AA)-Cu(2+)-zymosan, and (d) the release of H2O2.
RESULTS:
The (a), (b), (c), and (d) were scavenged by morphine and their median inhibitory concentrations (IC50 and 95% confidence limits) were 21.1 (13.0-34.0), 54.1 (50.0-58.5), 224.0 (128.2-390.8), and 66.9 (62.9-71.0), nmol L-1, respectively.
CONCLUSION:
The immunosuppressant effect of morphine was related to its free radicals scavenging action.
Keywords:

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