[31] Antioxidant activities of bile pigments: Biliverdin and bilirubin

BilirubinOxidation Products (BOXes) and Their Role in Cerebral Vasospasm after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

“…We propose that oxidation of bilirubin produces molecules (BOXes) that cause or contribute to vasospasm. However, bilirubin itself has been shown to be an antioxidant (Dohi et al, 2003;Stocker et al, 1987Stocker et al, , 1990) and could therefore protect from vasospasm by decreasing oxidative stress. If bilirubin protects against oxidative stress and protects against vasospasm, and if bilirubin oxidation produces molecules that contribute to vasospasm, then whether vasospasm occurs may be of some balance between these two factors-BOX concentrations versus bilirubin concentrations.…”

Reassessment of the Unbound Concentrations of Unconjugated Bilirubin in Relation to Neurotoxicity In Vitro

“…The moderate "physiologic" jaundice that develops after birth may be neuroprotective for the neonate (1), owing to the potent antioxidant properties of UCB (2,3). By contrast, if the underlying immaturity of the hepatic transport processes or the postnatal increases in production and enterohepatic circulation of UCB are more severe (4), marked neonatal jaundice occurs, which may result in reversible neurotoxicity (bilirubin encephalopathy) (5,6).…”

Biological Implications of Heme Metabolism

“…Conversely, low serum bilirubin levels have also been shown to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease [68]. In addition, bile pigments produced by heme oxygenase-1 induction was shown to display protective actions in vitro and in vivo [69][70][71][72].…”