title: Effects of structure on radical-scavenging abilities and antioxidative activities of tea polyphenols: NMR analytical approach using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals.
abstract: Tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves contain various antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (1) and polyphenols. This study tries to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the antioxidative and radical-scavenging activities of these antioxidants, and the reactivities of each antioxidant have been compared against that of the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, 2) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Catechol (3) and (+)-taxifolin (4) were oxidized to o-quinone by 2. However, ethyl protocatechuate (5) and quercetin (6) were not oxidized to o-quinone, even though they possess a catechol structure. The radical-scavenging ability of o-dihydroxyl phenolic compounds with a conjugated olefinic double bond (e.g., 6) was superior to that of compounds without this bond (e.g., 4), whereas the ability of o-dihydroxyl phenolic compounds possessing a conjugated carbonyl bond (5) was inferior to that of compounds lacking this bond (3). Vicinal trihydroxyl phenolic compounds with a conjugated olefinic double bond [e.g., myricetin (7)] had an inferior scavenging ability as compared with compounds lacking this bond [e.g., pyrogallol (8)], but 7 was a better scavenger than compounds with a conjugated carbonyl double bond [e.g., ethyl gallate (9)]. In addition, vicinal trihydroxyl phenolic compounds (e.g., 9) were superior to o-dihydroxyl phenolic compounds (e.g., 6). Finally, 1 scavenged radicals more quickly than 8.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Vegetable and Tea Science, Kanaya, Shizuoka 428-8501, Japan. ysawai@affrc.go.jp
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: Jae-Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Kanzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Naoharu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D059808:Polyphenols; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl