Abstract
The antioxidant effects of riboflavin on the lipid peroxidation and respiratory control of mitochondria were studied. Rats were fed on regular diet, 3 mg% riboflavin free-form (free-B_2)-supplemented diet, and 3 mg% riboflavin tetrabutyrate (B_2-But)-supplemented diet respectively. The mitochondria was prepared from rat liver after 8 weeks feeding. Ultraviolet irradiation upon the mitochondrial suspension resulted in formation of lipid peroxide and uncoupling of respiratory control. The mitochondria suspension prepared from rats fed on riboflavin-supplemented diet, prevented the above mitochondrial damage. The addition of riboflavin to the mitochondrial suspension following ultraviolet irradiation could restore the lipid peroxide content and the uncoupling damage of respiratory control. The anti-oxidant effect of B_2-But was higher than that of free-B_2 in the in vivo and in vitro administration study mentioned above.
