Electrochemical studies of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate and its interaction with DNA

In this paper, an electrochemical investigation of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and its interaction with DNA is presented. Via an electrochemical approach assisted by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, we propose that EGCG can intercalate into DNA strands forming a nonelectroactive complex, which results in the decrease of the anodic peak current of EGCG. Meanwhile, an electrochemical study with the DNA–Cu(II)–EGCG system shows that damage to DNA can be recognized electrochemically via the increase in the anodic peak current resulting from the oxidation of guanine and adenine bases. The damage can also be recognized spectrophotometrically via an increase in the 260 nm absorption band. In addition, it was found that EGCG is able to discriminate dsDNA from ssDNA, making a potential electrochemical indicator for the detection of DNA hybridization events. A rapid and convenient method of detecting EGCG was also developed in this work. Figure Interaction of EGCG with DNA and damage to DNA in the presence of Cu(II) Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Determination of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in rat blood by microdialysis coupled with liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic method coupled with microdialysis was used to determine the protein-unbound (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in rat blood. EGCG and dialysates were separated using a Merck RP-18e column maintained at ambient temperature, and a mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile-10 mM monopotassium phosphate (pH 3.82) (20:80, v/v) with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The UV detector wavelength was set at 206 nm. The detection limit for EGCG was 10 ng/ml. The concentration-response relationship was linear (r2 > 0.995) over a concentration range of 0.05-10 microg/ml; intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy of EGCG fell within predefined limits. Pharmacokinetic parameters of EGCG were assessed using compartmental models. The disposition of EGCG in the rat blood suggests that EGCG was fitted by two-compartmental model. The distribution and elimination half-lives were 6 and 72 min respectively, after the dosage of 30 mg/kg.     

Cadmium(II) N-acetylcysteine complex formation in aqueous solution

The complex formation between Cd(II) ions and N-acetylcysteine (H(2)NAC) in aqueous solution was investigated using Cd K- and L(3)-edge X-ray absorption and (113)Cd NMR spectroscopic techniques. Two series of 0.1 M Cd(II) solutions with the total N-acetylcysteine concentration c(H2NAC) varied between 0.2-2 M were studied at pH 7.5 and 11.0, respectively. At pH = 11 a novel mononuclear [Cd(NAC)(4)](6-) complex with the average Cd-S distance 2.53(2) ? and the chemical shift δ((113)Cd) = 677 ppm was found to dominate at a concentration of the free deprotonated ligand [NAC(2-)] > 0.1 M, consistent with our previous reports on cadmium tetrathiolate complex formation with cysteine and glutathione. At pH 7.5 much higher ligand excess ([HNAC(-)] > 0.6 M) is required to make this tetrathiolate complex the major species. The (113)Cd NMR spectrum of a solution containing c(Cd(II)) = 0.5 M and c(H2NAC) = 1.0 M measured at 288 K showed three broad signals at 421, 583 and 642 ppm, which can be attributed to CdS(3)O(3), CdS(3)O and CdS(4) coordination sites, respectively, in oligomeric Cd(II)-NAC species with single thiolate bridges between the cadmium ions.     

Voltammetry of Electroinactive Species Using Quinone/Hydroquinone Redox: A Known Redox System Viewed in a New Perspective

Electrochemical behavior of p‐benzoquinone (Q), hydroquinone (H₂Q) and quinhydrone complex (QH) have been investigated in aqueous unbuffered solutions. The results revealed that in unbuffered solution the half wave potential of hydroquinone has a significant difference with quinone's half wave potential. It shown that, added acid in an unbuffered solution of Q, give rise to a new reduction peak at a more positive potential than original reduction peak of Q. The half‐peak potential of this new peak is dependent on acidity of added acid (pK_a) and its height is proportional to the acid concentration. Also, added base in an unbuffered solution of H₂Q, give rise to a new oxidation peak at a more negative potential than original oxidation peak of H₂Q. The half‐peak potential of this new peak is dependent on basicity of added base (pK_b) and its height is proportional to the base concentration. This paper shows new perspectives for a known system in aqueous unbuffered solutions, by means of voltammetric responses that can be exploited for the electrochemical investigation of non electroactive species such as HPO , HCO or CH₃COOH.     

Study of the release of gallic acid from (–)‐epigallocatechin gallate in old oolong tea by mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography combined with multiple‐stage mass spectrometry (LC/MSⁿ) was used to study the pathway of the release of gallic acid (GA) from epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in infusion of old oolong tea. The possibility of releasing GA from EGCG in old tea preparations was supported by an in vitro observation of GA degraded from EGCG under heating conditions mimicking the drying process. Negative electrospray ionization with the data‐dependent mode of MSⁿ was used to study the formation pathway of GA in old oolong tea. The MSⁿ data show that GA was released from the dimer of EGCG, not directly degraded from EGCG. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Involvement of ROS and JNK1 in selenite-induced apoptosis in Chang liver cells

Selenium is a dietary essential trace nutrient with important biological roles. Selenocompounds were reported to induce apoptosis in many types of tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the signaling pathway involved in the selenite-induced apoptosis using Chang liver cells as a non-malignant cell model. The Chang liver cell apoptosis induced by selenite (10 microM) was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and typical apoptotic nuclear changes. Treatment of selenite increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and c-Jun N-terminal kinase1 (JNK1) phosphorylation. The selenite-induced cell death was attenuated by SP600125, a specific inhibitor of JNK, and by dominant negative JNK1 (DN-JNK1). Antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin (EC) inhibited selenite-induced intracellular ROS elevation and JNK1 phosphorylation. Our results suggest that selenite-induced apoptosis in Chang liver cells was preceded by the ROS generation and JNK1 activation.     

A kinetic analysis of oxidation of the antioxidant <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyl-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-cysteine (NAC) by Pt(IV) complexes

N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant and a supplement and has been demonstrated to have protective effects for a variety of toxic effects of heavy metals. Although previous works have shown that NAC can ameliorate the severe toxic effects of cisplatin, there is a lack of understanding of the interactions between NAC and Pt(IV)-based prodrugs. In this work, the oxidation of NAC by a cisplatin prodrug (cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₄]), by a prototype of Pt(IV) anticancer drug ormaplatin ([Pt(dach)Cl₄]) and by a model compound (trans-[PtCl₂(CN)₄]^2–) was characterized in detail. NAC was oxidized to NAC-disulfide as identified by mass spectrometric analysis. Time-resolved spectral and stopped-flow kinetic measurements were carried out over a wide pH range, demonstrating that the oxidation followed overall second-order kinetics. The observed second-order rate constants k′ versus pH profiles were established. A reaction mechanism was deduced, involving three parallel rate-determining steps; conceivable transition states were also proposed for these steps. Rate constants of the rate-determining steps, obtained from the simulations of rate equation to the k′–pH profiles, were largely correlated with the electron density on the sulfur atom in NAC. The Pt(IV) prodrugs can execute oxidative stress in the biological systems of the human body by direct oxidation of relevant molecules, similar to HOCl/OCl^? and chloroamines. Instead, the oxidative stress involved in the severe toxic effects of cisplatin is produced via a different mode. NAC could be a chemoprotecting agent also for the Pt(IV) anticancer drugs if recent drug delivery technologies are used.     

Electronic structure of functionalized thia- and calix[4]arenes

The electronic structure of calix[4]arene phosphine oxides (CPO) and thiacalix[4]arene phosphine oxides (TCPO) is studied by X-ray photoelectron and emission spectroscopy and quantum chemical methods. The electron density distribution over atoms contained in CPO and TCPO is analyzed. The structure of higher occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) is examined. It is shown that HOMOs of these compounds mainly consist of contributions of oxygen 2p atomic orbitals (AOs) of phosphoryl and hydroxyl moieties and also bridging sulfur 3p AOs, which indicates the bifunctionality of the considered extractant molecules. The mutual effect of the lower and upper rims of CPOs and TCPOs as well as the effect of their structures on the electron density distribution over calixarene molecules is investigated.     

A Study of the Interaction,Morphology, and Structure in Trypsin-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Complexes

Understanding the interaction between proteins and polyphenols is of significance to food industries. The aim of this research was to investigate the mode of aggregation for trypsin-EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) complexes. For this, the complex was characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, small-angel X-ray scattering (SAXS), and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques. The results showed that the fluorescence intensity of trypsin-EGCG complexes decreased with increasing the concentration of EGCG, indicating that the interaction between trypsin and EGCG resulted in changes in the microenvironment around fluorescent amino acid residues. The results of CD analysis showed conformational changes in trypsin after binding with EGCG. The results from SAXS analysis showed that the addition of EGCG results in the formation of aggregates of trypsin-EGCG complexes, and increasing the concentration of EGCG resulted in larger aggregates. AFM images showed that the trypsin-EGCG complex formed aggregates of irregular ellipsoidal shapes with the size of about 200 × 400 × 200 nm, with EGCG interconnecting the trypsin particles. Overall, according to these results, it was concluded that the large aggregates of trypsin-EGCG complexes are formed from several small aggregates that are interconnected. The results of this study shed some light on the interaction between digestive enzymes and EGCG.     

Study of acetylated EGCG synthesis by enzymatic transesterification in organic media

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenolic compound in catechins, exerts excellent physiological effects including antioxidant. However, with its high hydrophilicity and poor lipophilicity, the application of EGCG in oil products is limited. In this study, EGCG acetylated derivatives were prepared by transesterification of EGCG with vinyl ester in acetonitrile/isopropanol (1:1 v/v). Lipase Lipozyme RM IM was found to be the optimum catalyst at concentration of 12 U/g EGCG, with a molar ratio of 1:5 of EGCG to vinyl acetate as the substrates. And 83.2% conversion was obtained after 10 h reaction at 50 °C. Based on the ping-pong model, the kinetic equation was constructed to determine the reaction kinetic parameters. The analysis of the initial rate and progress curve indicated that the transesterification of EGCG and vinyl acetate was kinetically regulated. Two major acetylated derivatives were identified as 5″-O-acetyl-EGCG and 3″, 5″-di-O-acetyl-EGCG by LC-MS/MS and NMR. Their enhanced lipophilicity was confirmed by transmittance test and octanol–water partition coefficient. The antioxidant activity of di-acetylated EGCG was superior to mono-acetylated EGCG and EGCG, but slightly lower than tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) as determined by peroxide values (POV) and Rancimat test. Acetylated EGCG might be used as a potent antioxidant for controlling oxidation of oil.     

A simple topological factor determining the allowance of pericyclic reactions

The study is aimed at revealing the possible manifestation of the overlap topology of AOs at early stages of pericyclic reactions. To this end, formation of an evenmembered cycle of carbon atoms is considered as a unified model, wherein relatively strong (C?C) bonds alternate with weak ones. A direct perturbative method is applied to derive algebraic expressions for energy and bond order corrections due to cyclization. To represent the overlap topology of 2p_z AOs over the cycle, a new concept of the roundabout interaction is introduced. The relevant definition contains a product of resonance parameters (or overlap integrals) between orbitals of all neighboring pairs of C?C bonds and a certain N‐dependent parity factor, where N coincides with the total number of these bonds. The principal result of the study consists in demonstration of proportionality of both energy and bond order corrections to the roundabout interaction of the given cycle and thereby of a direct dependence between these corrections and the overlap topology of AOs. Moreover, the sign of the roundabout interaction is shown to determine the allowance of the given way of the process, viz. cycles described by positive (negative) roundabout interactions refer to allowed (forbidden) ways. Thus, an analog of the famous Woodward‐Hoffmann rule is obtained, wherein the overlap topology of AOs stands instead of symmetry of molecular orbitals. Along with stabilization of the cycle vs. the initial open chain, the allowed processes also are necessarily characterized by growing uniformity of all bond orders over the cycle, while the forbidden ones are accompanied by both destabilization and an increasing distinction between strong and weak bonds. The results obtained also yield a new definition of the concerted nature of pericyclic processes. The general conclusions of the study are illustrated by consideration of specific examples including the electrocyclic closure of polyene chains. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

In vitro antioxidative activities of three marine oligosaccharides

The antioxidant activities of three marine oligosaccharides, alginate oligosaccharides (AOs), chitosan oligosaccharides (COs), and fucoidan oligosaccharides (FOs), were investigated in vitro by several antioxidant assays, including hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, erythrocyte hemolysis inhibiting, metal chelating activities, and anti-lipid peroxidation. The results show that these oligosaccharides exhibited different activities in various assays. AOs had the highest scavenging hydroxyl radical activity than FOs and COs at all the tested amounts. COs had the highest scavenging superoxide radical and inhibiting erythrocyte hemolysis activity than AOs and FOs at all the tested amounts. In the assay of chelating Fe2+, COs and FOs indicated good chelation while AOs hardly had any activity. In the assay of anti-lipid peroxidation, only COs had significantly high antioxidant activity.     

Separation and quantification of N-acetyl-l-cysteine and N-acetyl-cysteine-amide by HPLC with fluorescence detection

N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) is a well-known antioxidant that is capable of facilitating glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and replenishing intracellular GSH under oxidatively challenging circumstances. N-acetyl-cysteine-amide (NACA), the amide form of NAC, is a newly designed and synthesized thiol-containing compound which is believed to be more lipophilic and permeable through cell membranes than NAC. The metabolic and antioxidant effects of these compounds in vitro and in vivo are under investigation. However, an analytical method that can separate and quantify both compounds simultaneously is not yet available, to the best of our knowledge. Because of their structural similarities, the two compounds are difficult to separate using earlier HPLC methods which were designed for NAC quantification. Therefore, the goal of this work was to develop an HPLC method with fluorescence detection for simultaneous quantification of NAC and NACA in biological blood and tissue samples. A gradient HPLC program with fluorescence detection (lambda(ex) = 330 nm, lambda(em) = 376 nm) using N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide (NPM) as the derivatizing agent was developed. The calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 25-5000 nm (r(2) > 0.997). The coefficients of variation for within-run precision and between-run precision ranged from 0.67 to 5.23% and for accuracy ranged from 0.98 to 10.54%; the percentage relative recovery ranged from 94.5 to 102.8%. This new method provides satisfactory separation of NAC and NACA, along with other biological thiols, in 20 min with a 5 nm limit of detection (LOD) per 5 microL injection volume.     

Label-free and rapid colorimetric detection of DNA damage based on self-assembly of a hemin-graphene nanocomposite

Hemin-graphene nanosheets (H-GNs) can be controllably assembled by target DNA via a hybridization process. This results in a color change from dark blue-green to light blue-green. The degree of aggregation is dependent on DNA concentration and very sensitive to base mismatch. The formation of the blue-green color can be detected with bare eyes or a spectrometer. The method is simple, rapid, and works over the concentration range from 1.0 to 100 nM. The detection limit for target DNA is 0.2 nM. Excellent selectivity is also found in that a DNA with a single base mismatch can be discriminated. This was exploited to detect DNA damage as induced by styrene oxide, sodium arsenite, Fenton’s reagent, or UV radiation. We presume that this method represents a promising tool for evaluating genotoxicity. Figure

Detection of DNA damage based on DNA-directed self-assembly of H-GNs     

Modulation of cisplatin cytotoxic activity against leiomyosarcoma cells by epigallocatechin-3-gallate

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect cisplatin in combination with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on leiomyosarcoma cells (LMS cells) in order to identify a less toxic but equally effective alternative. Assays for cell proliferation, colony formation efficiency, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were performed using the IC₅₀ of cisplatin (8.6 μΜ) as a reference value and a concentration of EGCG (30 μΜ) that caused a non-significant reduction in cell proliferation. Pre-treatment of cells with EGCG for 24 h before the addition of cisplatin increased cytotoxicity up to 8.5% (p < 0.05) and the number of apoptotic cells by 40%. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate failed to alter S-phase cell cycle arrest induced by cisplatin and to modulate cisplatin effects on mitochondrial function. These results indicate that pre-treatment with EGCG could be used as an adjunctive therapy to maximise effectiveness of chemotherapy.     

Dioctylamine‐Sulfonamide‐Modified Carbon Nanoparticles as High Surface Area Substrates for Coenzyme Q10?Lipid Electrochemistry

Dioctylaminesulfonamide‐modified carbon nanoparticles are characterised and employed as high surface area substrate for (i) coenzyme Q10 and (ii) 1,2‐dimyristoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (or DMPC) ‐ Q10 redox processes. The carbon nanoparticles provide a highly hydrophobic substrate with ca. 25 Fg^?1 capacitance when bare. Q10 or DMPC‐Q10 immobilised onto the carbon nanoparticles lower the capacitance, but give rise to well‐defined pH‐dependent voltammetric responses. The DMPC‐Q10 deposit shows similar characteristics to those of Q10, but with better reproducibility and higher sensitivity. Both redox systems, Q10 and DMPC‐Q10, are sensitive to the Na⁺ concentration in the electrolyte and mechanistic implications are discussed.     

Effect of tea catechins on the structure of lipid membrane and beta-ray induced lipid peroxidation

Inhibiting effect of four tea catechins, (−)-epicatechin (EC), (−)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on the lipid peroxidation induced by β-ray in tritiated water was examined using a spin probe method. 16-Doxylstearic acid (16NS) was incorporated into the liposome prepared from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and the rate of the decrease of ESR intensity of 16NS was used as a measure of the inhibiting effect. In the low concentration region below 10⁻⁵M, catechins showed their inhibitions on the lipid peroxidation according to the order of ECG>EGCG>EC>EGC. This result was explained by a model that the initiator of the peroxidation is the hydroxyl radical (·OH) and the catechins adsorbed on the lipid membrane surface acting as scavengers of ·OH. In the high concentration range, however, the effect was diverse and it decreased with the increase of it in the case of EGCG. EGCG in this range was considered to enter into the interior of the membrane and break the structure, which causes the decrease of 16NS. Observation with transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that the size of the liposome became larger with the increasing concentration of EGCG and finally it was broken into fragments, showing that EGCG broadened the area of the liposome as expected from the result of ESR.     

Characterization of stable and reactive metabolites of piperine formed on incubation with human liver microsomes

Black pepper, though commonly employed as a spice, has many medicinal properties. It consists of volatile oils, alkaloids, pungent resins, etc., of which piperine is a major constituent. Though safe at low doses, piperine causes alteration in the activity of drug metabolising enzymes and transporters at high dose and is known to precipitate liver toxicity. It has a potential to form reactive metabolite(s) (RM) owing to the presence of structural alerts, such as methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP), α, β‐unsaturated carbonyl group (Michael acceptor), and piperidine. The present study was designed to detect and characterize stable and RM(s) of piperine formed on in vitro incubation with human liver microsomes. The investigation of RMs was done with the aid of trapping agents, viz, glutathione (GSH) and N‐acetylcysteine (NAC). The samples were analysed by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐HRMS) using Thermo Scientific Q Exactive Plus Orbitrap. Full scan MS followed by data‐dependent MS² (Full MS‐ddMS²) mode was used to establish mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways of protonated piperine and its metabolites. In total, four stable metabolites and their isomers (M1a‐c, M2a‐b, M3a‐c, and M4a‐b) were detected. Their formation involved removal of carbon (3, M1a‐c), hydroxylation (2, M2a‐b), hydroxylation with hydrogenation (3, M3a‐c), and dehydrogenation (2, M4a‐b). Out of these metabolites, M1, M2, and M3 are reported earlier in the literature, but their isomers and two M4 variants are novel. In addition, six novel conjugates of RMs, including three GSH conjugates of m/z 579 and three NAC conjugates of m/z 435, were also observed.     

N-acetyl-L-cysteine prevents DNA damage induced by UVA, UVB and visible radiation in human fibroblasts

The thiol N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is a source of cysteine for the synthesis of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH) which is depleted by ultraviolet radiation. It is also associated with the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study the effects of NAC were examined in cultured human fibroblasts during prolonged exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB), ultraviolet A (UVA) and visible irradiation (280-700 nm), delivered by a 150 W xenon-arc lamp. The alkaline comet assay was used to assess the DNA damage in individual cells. It was found that incubating skin and lung fibroblasts at 37 degrees C for 1 h with an optimal 6 mM NAC supplement prior to light exposure, significantly reduced the level of DNA damage in both cell types, however, the skin fibroblasts were less sensitive to xenon-arc lamp irradiation than lung fibroblasts. NAC incubation resulted in an initial delay in DNA damage when the cells were irradiated. There was also a significant reduction in the overall levels of DNA damage observed with continued irradiation. NAC significantly reduced the DNA damage produced in lung fibroblasts depleted of normal GSH protection by the glutamylcysteinyl synthetase inhibitor, L-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine. Although the specific mechanism of NAC protection has not yet been elucidated, these results support the hypothesis that NAC may protect the cells directly, by scavenging ROS induced by UVA and visible radiation, and indirectly by donating cysteine for GSH synthesis.