Phytic acid suppresses 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion-induced hydroxyl radical generation in rat striatum.

The present study examined the antioxidant effect of phytic acid on iron (II)-enhanced hydroxyl radical (*OH) generation induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) in the extracellular fluid of rat striatum. Rats were anesthetized, and sodium salicylate in Ringer's solution (0.5 nmol/microl/min) was infused through a microdialysis probe to detect the generation of *OH as reflected by the non-enzymatic formation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) in the striatum. Phytic acid (100 microM) did not significantly decrease the levels of MPP(+)-induced *OH formation trapped as 2,3-DHBA. To confirm the generation of *OH by the Fenton-type reaction, iron (II) was infused through a microdialysis probe. Introduction of iron (II) (10 microM) enhanced MPP(+) induced *OH generation. However, phytic acid significantly suppressed iron (II)-enhanced *OH formation after MPP(+) treatment (n=6, P<0.05). These results suggest that the antiradical effect of phytic acid occurs by chelating iron required for the MPP(+)-enhanced *OH generation via the Fenton-type reaction.