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Resveratrol (RV) is a potent antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory agent. Its main target of action is the cell membrane; however, its effect on that of human erythrocytes has been scarcely investigated. With the aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms of the interaction of RV with cell membranes both human erythrocytes and molecular models of its membrane have been utilized. The latter consisted in bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), representative of phospholipid classes located in the outer and inner monolayers of the erythrocyte membrane, respectively. Results by X-ray diffraction showed that RV produced a significant structural perturbation on DMPC bilayers, but no effects were observed in DMPE. Scanning electron (SEM) and defocusing microscopy (DM) observations showed that RV induced morphological alterations to the red cells from the normal discoid shape to echinocytes. These results imply that RV was located in the outer monolayer of the erythrocyte membrane. Results of its antioxidant properties showed that RV neutralized the oxidative capacity of HClO on DMPC and DMPE bilayers. On the other hand, SEM and DM observations as well as hemolysis assays demonstrated the protective effect of RV against the deleterious effects of HClO upon human erythrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: While traces of manganese (Mn) take part in important and essential functions in biology, elevated exposures have been shown to cause significant toxicity. Chronic exposure to the metal leads to manganese neurotoxicity (or manganism), a brain disorder that resembles Parkinsonism. Toxic effect mechanisms of Mn is not understood, toxic concentrations of manganese are not well defined and blood manganese concentration at which neurotoxicity occurs has not been identified. There are reports indicating that the most abundant Mn-species in Mn carriers within blood is the Mn–citrate complex. Despite the well-documented information about the toxic effects of Mn, there are scarce reports concerning the effects of manganese compounds on both structure and functions of cell membranes, particularly those of human erythrocytes. With the aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms of the interaction of Mn with cell membranes, MnCl2, and the Mn–citrate complex were incubated with intact erythrocytes, isolated unsealead human erythrocyte membranes (IUM), and molecular models of the erythrocyte membrane. These consisted in bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), phospholipid classes present in the outer and inner monolayers of the erythrocyte membrane, respectively. The capacity of the Mn compounds to perturb the bilayer structures of DMPC and DMPE was evaluated by X-ray diffraction, IUM were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy, and intact human erythrocytes were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In all these systems it was found that Mn2+ exerted considerable higher structural perturbations than the Mn–citrate complex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]