The protective effect of mentha longifolia against reactive metabolites that damage proteins derivied from aromatic amines

Aromatic amine-containing drugs in humans is converted to aryl radicals, then these radicals through the metabolism of myeloperoxidase (MPO) / H2O2 forms a protein radical. This condition as a side effect associated with the disease called agranulocytosis (decrease of neutrophils). Procainamide is a drug used in treatment of antiarrhythmics. This drug is used for the treatment in patients after surgery or long-term care of cardiac arrhythmias. The use of aromatic amine-containing drugs by patients cause agranulocytosis disease. In this thesis, we have investigated the scavenging effect of methanol extract and essential oils of Mentha longifolia on the diazonium salt of the drug procainamide induced aryl radicals. For this purpose, 4-chloro-2-nitro tetrafluoroborate was chosen as a model to produce carbon centered aryl radical. This radical known to cause DNA strand breaks. Procainamide tetrafluoroborate salt was also prepared. The protective effect of methanol extract and essential oil of M. longifolia was evaluated against the damage effect of aryl radical which are generated from 4-chloro-2-nitro tetrafluoroborate and procainamide tetrafluoroborate on both protein and DNA. The plant phenolics are major groups of extremely important free-radical compounds that act as antioxidants. The total amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds were found to be high in the methanol extract and essential oils of M. longifolia. In conclusion, the results indicate that the potency of the carbon- centered aryl radicals to cause DNA strand breaks and oxidative protein damage were attenuated by methanol extract and essential oils of M. longifolia.