23344-86-7Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Involvement of semiquinone radicals in the in vitro cytotoxicity of cigarette mainstream smoke
Chouchane, Salem,Wooten, Jan B.,Tewes, Franz J.,Wittig, Arno,Mueller, Boris P.,Veltel, Detlef,Diekmann, Joerg
, p. 1602 - 1610 (2008/12/22)
Free radicals in cigarette smoke have attracted a great deal of attention because they are hypothesized to be responsible in part for several of the pathologies related to smoking. Hydroquinone, catechol, and their methyl-substituted derivatives are abundant in the particulate phase of cigarette smoke, and they are known precursors of semiquinone radicals. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of these dihydroxybenzenes was determined using the neutral red uptake (NRU) assay, and their radical-forming capacity was determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). All of the dihydroxybenzenes studied were found to generate appreciable amounts of semiquinone radicals when dissolved in the cell culture medium employed in the NRU assay. Hydroquinone exhibited by far the highest capacity to form semiquinone radicals at physiological pH, even though it is not the most cytotoxic dihydroxybenzene. Methyl-substituted dihydroxybenzenes were found to be more cytotoxic than either hydroquinone or catechol. The formation of semiquinone radicals via auto-oxidation of the dihydroxybenzenes was found to be dependent on the reduction potential of the corresponding quinone/semiquinone radical redox couple. The capacity to generate semiquinone radicals was found to be insufficient to explain the variance in the cytotoxicity among the dihydroxybenzenes in our study; consequently, other mechanisms of toxicity must also be involved. The observed interactions between 2,6-dimethylhydroquinone and hydroquinone in the cytotoxicity assay and EPR analysis suggest that care needs to be taken when the bioactivity of cigarette smoke constituents is evaluated, i.e., the effect of the cigarette smoke complex matrix on the activity of the single constituent studied must be taken into consideration.
Reduction potentials of flavonoid and model phenoxyl radicals. Which ring in flavonoids is responsible for antioxidant activity?
Jovanovic, Slobodan V.,Steenken, Steen,Hara, Yukihiko,Simic, Michael G.
, p. 2497 - 2504 (2007/10/03)
Model phenoxyl and more complex flavonoid radicals were generated by azide radical induced one-electron oxidation in aqueous solutions. Spectral, acid-base and redox properties of the radicals were investigated by the pulse radiolysis technique. The physicochemical characteristics of the flavonoid radicals closely match those of the ring with the lower reduction potential. In flavonoids which have a 3,5-dihydroxyanisole (catechins), or a 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone (hesperidin, rutin, quercetin)-like A ring and a catechol- or 2-methoxyphenol-like B ring, the antioxidant active moiety is clearly the B ring [reduction potential difference between the model phenoxyls is ΔE(A-B ring models) > 0.1 V]. In galangin, where the B ring is unsubstituted phenyl, the antioxidant active moiety is the A ring. Even though the A ring is not a good electron donor, E7, > 0.8/NHE V, it can still scavenge alkyl peroxyl radicals, E7, = 1.06 V, and the Superoxide radical, E7 > 1.06 V. Quercetin is the best electron donor of all investigated flavonoids (measured E10.8 = 0.09 V, and calculated E7 = 0.33 V). The favourable electron-donating properties originate from the electron donating O-3 hydroxy group in the C ring, which is conjugated to the catechol (B ring) radical through the 2,3-double bond. The conjugation of the A and B rings is apparently minimal, amounting to less than 2.5% of the substituent effect in either direction. Thus, neglecting the acid-base equilibria of the A ring, and using those of the B ring and the measured values of the reduction potentials at pH 3,7 and 13.5, the pH dependence of the reduction potentials of the flavonoid radicals can be calculated. In neutral and slightly alkaline media (pH 7-9), all investigated flavonoids are inferior electron donors to ascorbate. Quercetin, E7 = 0.33 V, and gallocatechins, E7 = 0.43 V, can reduce vitamin E radicals (assuming the same reduction potential as Trolox C radicals, E7 = 0.48 V). Since all investigated flavonoid radicals have reduction potentials lower than E7 = 1.06 V of alkyl peroxyl radicals, the parent flavonoids qualify as chain-breaking antioxidants in any oxidation process mediated by these radicals.
