title: Phenolic acids and derivatives: studies on the relationship among structure, radical scavenging activity, and physicochemical parameters.
abstract: The antiradical activity of caffeic acid (1), dihydrocaffeic acid (5), and their corresponding n-alkyl esters was evaluated by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*)) method. Dihydrocaffeic acid (5) was the most potent compound, having an antiradical effect higher than that of (+/-)-alpha-tocopherol, whereas caffeic acid (1) was less efficient. Esterification of the carboxyl group of dihydrocaffeic acid (5) had a dramatic effect on its antiradical potency, but similar effects were not observed for caffeic acid (1) derivatives. The n-alkyl esters of both phenolic series had similar potencies, and their antiradical activities were independent of the alkyl chain length. Dose-dependent scavenger effects were found in both series. Acid-base properties of the compounds, evaluated by using potentiometry and spectrophotometry, showed that the catechol moiety had pK(a2) and pK(a3) values of 9. 24-9.02 and 11.38-10.99 in the dihydrocaffeic series and 8.48-8.24 and 11.38-11.07 in the caffeic series, respectively. Antiradical activity and pK(a) values of the compounds were not related.
authors.affiliation: CEQOFFUP/Departamento de Química Orgânica, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004952:Esters; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005609:Free Radicals; D010636:Phenols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011199:Potentiometry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002109:Caffeic Acids; D004952:Esters; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D010636:Phenols; C000995:3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid; D014810:Vitamin E; C040048:caffeic acid