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The antioxidative activity of two plant growth promoters, ambiol and phonk, in a model system of photo-induced glycyltriptophane oxidation was measured. It was shown that ambiol has a significant antioxidative activity, whereas phonk is a weak antioxidant. The effects of these compounds on DNA conformation were studied in vitro and in vivo (on wheat seed shoots). In vitro ambiol had a stronger effect as compared with phonk, whereas in vivo the latter produced a more essential effect than ambiol. The assumption was done that both compounds affect indirectly the genome expression activity. Possible mechanisms of biological activity of each compound are discussed.

The results of the determination of radionuclide and chemical (multielement analysis) soil pollution are presented. The data on antioxidant status of plantain (Plantago major L.) in conjunction with the data on radionuclide and chemical pollution are analyzed. The most significant decrease in antioxidant activity of plant seeds was observed in areas situated along the most frequent wind direction in the region in summer 1998. It is suggested that lower antioxidant status is caused by the chronic radionuclide release on the chemically polluted territories.

Investigation of antioxidant properties of some plants was carried out. A group of plants exhibited antimicrobial activity was studied in detail. Efficiency of plants as antioxidants was tested by the influence of their extracts on the yield of photochemiluminescence of Gly-Trp solutions. Antioxidant properties were examined under conditions when their own absorption was minimized. Riboflavin as additional sensitizer was used in this experiment for superoxide generation. The antioxidant effect was evaluated with regard to single dose of plant extracts and their concentration in human organism. The effect decreases in the following consequence: Hypericum perforatumPotentilla erectraLedum palustrePlantago majorSalvia officinalisChamomilla recutitaArctostaphylos uva.

Investigation of antioxidant properties of some plants was carried out. A group of plants affected human central nervous system was studied in detail. Efficiency of plants as antioxidants was tested by the influence of their extracts on the yield of photochemiluminescence of Gly-Trp solutions. Antioxidant properties were examined under conditions when their own absorption was minimized. Riboflavin as additional sensitizer was used in this experiment for superoxide generation. The antioxidant effect was evaluated with regard to single dose of plant extracts and their concentration in human organism. The effect decreases in the following consequence: HypericumEleutherococcusRhodiolaLeonurusAraliaValerianaEchinopanaxSchizandraPanax gin-seng.

Photosensitizing effect of antimicrobial drug nitrofuran derivative--furagin N-(5-nitro-2-furil)-allylidencamino-hydantoin) under irradiation with light longer than 280 nm was found. The method of investigation is based on photochemiluminescence of Gly-Trp peptide in aqueous solution. Maximum photosensitizing efficiency was observed at the furagin concentration 0.08 mM when chemiluminescence yield was 33 times greater than photochemiluminescence of Gly-Trp peptide in absence of drug. It was shown that photochemiluminescence sensitized by furagin occurred via free radical way. Life time of the triplet state of furagin determined by flash photolysis was 40 microseconds. A comparison of experimental data with kinetic calculation allowed us to estimate the rate constant of triplet quenching by oxygen ((2.2 +/- 0.3)10(8) M-1.s-1) and the total rate constants of physical quenching and chemical reaction with Gly-Trp peptide ((2.0 +/- 0.4)10(8) M-1.s-1). It was also found in experiments with photochemiluminescence of Gly-Trp peptide sensitized by riboflavin (irradiation with monochromatic light 436 nm) that furagin possesses antioxidant properties twice reducing the intensity of chemiluminescence at the drug concentration 0.029 mM.