Uncoupling effects of 1,4-naphtoquinone derivatives on mitochondrial respiration rate in glioma cells

Abstract

1,4-naphthoquinones are ubiquitous in plant and animal cells. For example, plumbagin, juglone and lawsone are well-known naphtoquins of plant origin. Whereas, menadione (Vitamin K₃) is a catabolic product of oral phylloquinone (vitamin K₁) and a circulating precursor of tissue menaquinone-4 (vitamin K₂) in rats (1). Many quinones have been associated with a range of biological activities for example, antibacterial, antivirus, antifungal etc. Nowadays these compounds are extensively investigated for they potential as antineoplastic agents (2). The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of 1,4-naphthoquinones (lawsone, plumbagin, menadione, juglone) at different concentrations on mitochondrial oxygen consumption in rat glioma cell culture. Methods: C6 cell culture was used for experiments. Mitochondrial respiration rate was registered using oxygraphic system Oxygraph-2k. In the begining of experiment C6 cells were added into the respirometric chamber and permeabilized with digitonin (10 µg/ml). [...].