The Chemical Mechanism of Local D’Arsonval Treatment

Abstract

The effect on reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions was studied for the first time for pulsed current exposure using a Darsonval’ Korona physiotherapeutic device. The reactions were studied in Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, KI, tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine model solutions. Treatment with the device induced redox reactions and quenched the fluorescence of aromatic amino acids. The highest yields of redox reactions and the greatest fluorescence quenching were observed within the first 0.5–2 min from the start of treatment. In the case of one-electron transfer (a Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ system), the yields of oxidation and reduction reactions were approximately proportional. In the case of two-electron transfer (a I^–/I₃^- system), only reduction was observed, while oxidation was suppressed. The effect was presumably associated with the duration of the pulsed current half-wave. The results implicate redox processes triggered by microdischarges on the electrode surface in the therapeutic effect of D’Arsonval treatment.