Previous studies demonstrated that menadione, a representative quinone compound, reacts nonenzymatically with thiols in plasma, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species and potentiation of menadione-induced platelet damage. Because of the reported association of menadione with hemolytic anemia in vivo, investigations were undertaken to identify the free radicals generated from the interaction of menadione with plasma, and to assess the potential role of plasma-generated free-radical species in menadione-dependent erythrocyte toxicity. In rat plasma, menadione increased the rate of oxygen consumption and both luminol- and lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence in a concentration-dependent manner. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence, suggesting formation of superoxide anion. Menadione also induced significant increases in chemiluminescence when erythrocytes were suspended in plasma, but not when cells were suspended in buffer. Consistent with these findings, menadione-dependent hemolysis of erythrocytes occurred only when the cells were suspended in plasma. Various free-radical inhibitors were tested for their ability to inhibit menadione-induced hemolysis. Catalase and mannitol each produced significant inhibition, including an additive effect when both compounds were present, while SOD had no marked effect. In addition, pretreatment with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, an intracellular catalase inhibitor, potentiated menadione-induced cytotoxicity in the presence of plasma. These results suggest that both hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are involved in menadione-mediated plasma erythrocyte cytotoxicity; however, superoxide anion does not appear to play a direct role.