The effect of thymol and its derivatives on reactions generating reactive oxygen species

The effects of thymol (TOH), thymoquinone (TQ) and dithymoquinone (TQ?) on the reactions generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion radical (O-2(.-)), hydroxyl radical (HO.) and singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) were tested using the chemiluminescence (CL) and spectrophotometry methods. All tested compounds acted as scavengers of various ROS. The rate constant of O-1(2)-dimols quenching by thymol was calculated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.