The method of chemiluminescence (ChL) induced by hydrogen peroxides and ferric sulfate is based on the catalytic decomposition of peroxides by metallic ions of alternating valency. The resulted free radicals act as initiators of free-radical oxidation (FRO).
As a result of recombination of peroxide radicals it comes to formation of molecular products and emission of light quantum which defines the registered ChL.
The process of FRO induces a flash of ChL intensity which within 30-60 sec goes out under the influence of antioxidants available in sample. The intensity of ChL process is influenced by the complex of compounds producing both an oxidant and prooxidant effect. So the method gives an opportunity to assess the level of compensative mechanisms of FRO process.
The typical kinetics of such a chemiluminescence signal is demonstrated on the picture below. For assessment of FRO in sample the most relevant parameters are given below.
They reflect the potential ability of biological object towards lipid peroxidation, remission rate of FRO processes and characterize the capacity of antioxidant system.
In biochemiluminometer BChL-07 the given parameters are calculated automatically. I max - maximum intensity during the experiment, mV; S - area covered by intensity curve or total light sum; Z = S/I max normalized light sum; a = S/I max rt - relative light sum; tg2 - tangent of maximum slope angle of curve towards time axis; Dec - descent rate of curve to be calculated as parameter k for exponent (e k t).