Acta Pharm. 48 (1998) 127-131

Cardioprotective efficacy of new esculin metal complexes

IVANKA PENCHEVA,^* IRENA KOSTOVA, SPIRO KONSTANTINOV, ELINKA NAIDENOVA, MARGARITA KARAIVANOVA   and   ILIA MANOLOV 

Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, P. O. Box 139, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria  

The synthesis of metal complexes of esculin with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ag(I) is described. The complexes were characterised and identified by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and EMR spectroscopy. LD₅₀ of esculin was determined on H-albino mice (1.90-2.22 g kg^-1 once i.p.). A modulating effect on the daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was found for the zinc and silver complexes applied at a dose of 100 mg kg^-1 once i.p.. No effects were detected on the survival of the daunorubicin treated animals. The cardioprotective activity of new esculin complexes with zinc and silver can be explained by induction of metallothioneine and cleavage of free radicals due to antioxidant properties of the esculin derivatives.

Keywords: esculin, metal complexes, copper, zinc, silver, chemoprotective effect, free radicals formation, daunorubicin cardiotoxicity

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