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Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases logoLink to Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
. 1986 Mar;45(3):244–248. doi: 10.1136/ard.45.3.244

Antioxidant action of antimalarials.

Y Miyachi, A Yoshioka, S Imamura, Y Niwa
PMCID: PMC1001858  PMID: 3006612

Abstract

The effects of antimalarials, chloroquine and quinacrine, on the generation of reactive oxygen species were examined both in polymorphonuclear leucocytes and in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. Antimalarials showed inhibitory effects on the production of reactive oxygen species probably by affecting cell functions, such as membrane phospholipid methylation. It is suggested that antimalarial agents can work as antioxidants at the site of inflammation protecting against auto-oxidative tissue damage with resultant anti-inflammatory effects.

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Selected References

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