title: Comparative study of the cytotoxicity induced by antioxidant epicatechin conjugates obtained from grape.
abstract: We studied the cytotoxicity of epicatechin conjugates obtained by depolymerization of grape polymeric flavanols in the presence of cysteamine or cysteine and the resulting conjugates purified by ion exchange and/or reversed-phase high-resolution chromatography and compared it to their antioxidant capacity. The studies were carried out on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. The cytotoxic effects of these products were observed at concentrations 3-7-fold higher than the antioxidant concentration after exposure for 24, 48, and 72 h. The compounds with a gallate group were more toxic than the corresponding products without one. It is interesting to note that the esther ethyl derivative exhibited low cytotoxicity but had the most potent antioxidant activity. The results indicated that effective antioxidant activity can be obtained from these products in a concentration range that is safe for the normal cell. This finding suggests new pharmaceutical applications and may also help us to identify the potential therapeutic dose.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Fisiologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ugartondo
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitjans
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Josep Lluis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Maria Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vinardell
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D044948:Flavonols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D044948:Flavonols; D002392:Catechin