Original scientific paper
The effect of alkaloids on the chemiluminescence of luminol
Estera Kunec-Vajić
; Zavod za farmakologiju i Zavod za sudsku medicinu, Medicinski fakultet, Zagreb
K. Weber
; Zavod za farmakologiju i Zavod za sudsku medicinu, Medicinski fakultet, Zagreb
Abstract
The effect of certain alkaloids on the chemiluminescent oxidation of luminol in the presence of chlorochemin, methemoglobin and potassium ferricyanide as activators has been studied. The curves of chemiluminescence (intensity of luminescence vs. reaction time) for various concentrations of alkaloids were obtained by photoelectric measurements. In most cases a quenching effect of alkaloids has been observed. The numerical values of the half concentrations of the quenching effect were determined. It is apparent that inactive molecular compounds are formed by the activator (hematin) and alkaloids. The equation of competitive inhibition of biochemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes - which is in fact identical with Stern Volmer's equation for the quenching of fluorescence by addition of foreign substances - can be applied to the observed effects of quenching. In the presence of potassium ferricyanide as activator of luminescence, the reactions involved are much more complicated. Some of the alkaloids studied do not quench the luminescence activated by potassium ferricyanide. Others produce an activating effect in small concentrations and a quenching effect in higher concentrations only.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
177445
URI
Publication date:
19.9.1967.
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