Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the possible antioxidant activity of Tween-20 and Tween-80, two amphipathic nonionic surfactants commonly used as solubilizers and stabilizers, whose pharmacological effects have been ignored to a large degree.

Methods

Antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro measuring the scavenging activity on the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in activated human neutrophils using flow cytometry and the myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibitory activity.

Key findings

Tween-20 and Tween-80 did not show scavenging activity on DPPH, while produced a decrease of the ROS production in human neutrophils, being Tween-20 more active than Tween-80. Moreover, Tween-80 and Tween-20 were found to significantly stimulate MPO enzymatic activity.

Conclusions

Our findings raise concerns with regard to the indiscriminate use of Tween-20 and Tween-80 in clinical and laboratory testing, since they could influence the results that are assigned to the tested substance.

This article is published and distributed under the terms of the Oxford University Press, Standard Journals Publication Model (https://dbpia.nl.go.kr/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model)
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