Horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed sulfoxidation of promethazine and properties of promethazine sulfoxide

Promethazine sulfoxide was obtained with a quantitative yield in a horse radish peroxidase-catalyzed reaction of promethazine and hydrogen peroxide and was also prepared by direct chemical synthesis. The enzymatic sulfoxidation of promethazine was studied in vitro as a function of pH, promethazine, and hydrogen peroxide concentration. Promethazine sulfoxide inhibits with an apparent Ki of 59.7 μM at pH 5.5 the enzymatic reaction, followed spectrophotometrically, polarographically, potentiometrically, and luminometrically. The reaction was also inhibited by ascorbic acid (Ki 26.8 μM) and glutathione (Ki 41,8 μM). The spectrophotometric techniques employed, together with ESR spectrometry, allowed the identification of at least three radical species formed in the course of the reaction. Promethazine sulfoxide is devoid of the antioxidant effect exhibited by promethazine on rat brain synaptosomes. The sulfoxide also lacks photosensitizing action, while retaining the neuroleptic effect of the parent compound.