Possible role of free radical intermediates in hepatotoxicity of hydrazines derivatives

Hydrazine derivatives constitute a wide group of compounds and have found application in industry, agriculture, and (as therapeutical agents) medicine. In spite of their widely spread use, several hydrazine derivatives are known to exert hepatotoxic effects and are carcinogenic. Free radical species are produced during the hepatic biotransformation of alkylhydrazines by both rat and humans liver microsomes. Cytochrome P-450 dependent monoxygenase system is responsible for the production of these reactive species and specific cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes appear to catalyze the formation of free radical intermediates. Free radicals generated during the metabolism of alkylhydrazines are capable of inducing oxidative stress in isolated hepatocytes and might contribute to the development of cell injury.