3-Hydroxyflavone is a mildly active and safe cobalt chelator while cobalt markedly enhances baicalein toxicity toward erythrocytes
2023
Abstract
There is a need for the development of a cobalt chelator since there are currently no approved drugs for cobalt intoxication. A total of 23 flavonoids was tested for cobalt chelation by our spectrophotometric assay.
Further assessment was performed both in vitro and ex vivo. Six and thirteen flavonoids significantly chelated cobalt ions at pH 7.5 and 6.8, respectively.
Baicalein demonstrated a significant activity even at pH 5.5; however, none of the flavonoids showed chelation at pH 4.5. In general, baicalein and 3-hydroxyflavone were the most active.
They also mildly decreased the cobalt-triggered Fenton reaction, but baicalein toxicity toward red blood cells was strongly increased by the addition of cobalt.