Protective effects of resveratrol against hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase-induced toxicity on human erythrocytes

• An in vitro model of erythrocyte damage induced by HX-XOD was established.
• Resveratrol maintained erythrocyte morphological integrity.
• Resveratrol protected erythrocyte via enhancing its antioxidant capability.
• Resveratrol preserved ATPase probably by mediating the embden meyerhof pathway.

An in vitro model of erythrocyte damage induced by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XOD) was developed. The protective effects of resveratrol, a main component of red wine, were evaluated using this model. The results showed that resveratrol treatments maintained erythrocyte morphological and structural integrity, inhibited the formation of methaemoglobin, and suppressed the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Further investigation found that resveratrol attenuated the HX-XOD-induced reactive oxygen species generation, preserved erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GSH-Px) activities and increased GSH level. Also, resveratrol regulated the pyruvate kinase activity and pyruvate concentration, preserving the normal functioning of erythrocyte membrane ATPases (Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase). This study established an ideal cellular model for the research of erythrocyte antioxidant system, and revealed the protective mechanisms of resveratrol on human erythrocyte. The results of this study provided novel evidences for further researches on the utilization of resveratrol as a protector on human erythrocyte.