The antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine suppresses lidocaine-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production and cell death in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells.

Our findings demonstrate that the local anesthetics lidocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine inhibited the activity of mitochondria and induced apoptosis and necrosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, they demonstrate that treatment with the antioxidants NAC, Trolox, and GGA resulted in preservation of mitochondrial voltage and inhibition of apoptosis via suppression of caspase activation.