Hydrogen peroxide scavenging, antioxidant and anti-radical activity of some phenolic acids

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 753 - 758
• Main Authors: Sroka, Z., Cisowski, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2003; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anti-radical activity; Antioxidant activity; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Biphenyl Compounds; Caffeic Acids - metabolism; Cell metabolism, cell oxidation; Cell physiology; Free Radical Scavengers - chemistry; Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology; Free Radicals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gallic Acid - metabolism; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Hydroxybenzoates - chemistry; Hydroxybenzoates - pharmacology; Hydroxyl Radical; Hydroxylation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Molecular and cellular biology; Phenolic acids; Picrates - metabolism; Propyl Gallate - metabolism; TBA; TCA; DPPH; Antioxidant activity; Phenolic acids; Anti-radical activity; Phenolic acid; Antioxidant; In vitro; Radical scavenger; Biological activity
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-6915(02)00329-0

Some water-soluble phenolic acids were investigated as antioxidants, scavengers of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) and scavengers of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH •). The strongest antioxidant, scavenging of H 2O 2 and DPPH • radical activity was exhibited by 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic (gallic) acid and 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene (pyrogallol) with three hydroxyl groups bonded to the aromatic ring in an ortho position in relation to each other. Phenolic acids with two hydroxyl groups bonded to aromatic ring in the ortho position, such as 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic (caffeic), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic (protocatechuic) and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic ( o-pyrocatechuic) acids, showed strong antioxidant and anti-radical activity; however, it was lower than that of 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid or 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene. 3,5-Dihydroxybenzoic (α-resorcylic) and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic (β-resorcylic) acids with two hydroxyls bonded in the meta position in relation to each other showed moderate antioxidant and low DPPH • and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. Compounds with one hydroxyl group such as 3-hydroxybenzoic, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic and 2-hydroxybenzoic (salicylic) acids, exhibited the lowest anti-radical and antioxidant activity. The results obtained show that the antioxidant and anti-radical activity of phenolic acids correlated positively with the number of hydroxyl groups bonded to the aromatic ring. The model of an ortho substitution of hydroxyl groups to the aromatic ring seems to be adequate for antioxidant and H 2O 2 or DPPH • scavenging activity of phenolic acids.