Cyclodextrin encapsulation of the functional group diminishes an antioxidant's free radical scavenging rates

Scavenging rates of cyclodextrin‐solubilized lipophilic antioxidants, namely catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and resveratrol, against alkoxyl (RO^?) radical were measured with the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin‐trapping method. Results indicated that the scavenging rates of catechin and resveratrol were notably dependent on the solubilizer used, i.e., native β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) or heptakis(2,6‐di‐O‐methyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin (DM‐β‐CD). But, epicatechin and epigallocatechin gallate showed almost no dependence on the cyclodextrin used. Catechin's scavenging rate in β‐CD was 66% lower than in DM‐β‐CD; in contrast, resveratrol in β‐CD showed 45% higher rate than in DM‐β‐CD. Based on the reported solution‐NMR structure of the inclusion complex of these antioxidants, it was concluded that the scavenging rate is decreased when the cyclodextrin cavity preferentially encapsulates the antioxidant‐function bearing group, i.e., O‐ and p‐quinolinol group in catechin and resveratrol, respectively. The depth of inclusion of the functional group determines the extent of the scavenging rate difference, suggesting that the cavity wall of the cyclodextrin acts like a barrier that hinders the approach of attacking free radicals. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 598–603, 2012     

Stability,Morphology, and Effects of In Vitro Digestion on the Antioxidant Properties of Polyphenol Inclusion Complexes with β-Cyclodextrin

Polyphenols are inversely associated with the incidence of chronic diseases, but therapeutic use is limited by poor stability and bioaccessibility. Encapsulation has been shown to overcome some of these limitations. A selection of polyphenols (catechin, gallic acid, and epigallocatechin gallate) and their combinations were encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin (βCD). Encapsulation was characterized and the thermal and storage stability was evaluated using the 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. The samples were then subjected to in vitro digestion using a simple digestion (SD) model (gastric and duodenal phases) and a more complex digestion (CD) model (oral, gastric, and duodenal phases). Thereafter, the chemical (oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay) and cellular (dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay in Caco-2 cells) antioxidant and antiglycation (advanced glycation end-products assay) activities were determined. Inclusion complexes formed at a 1:1 molar ratio with a high encapsulation yield and efficiency. Encapsulation altered the morphology of the samples, increased the thermal stability of some and the storage stability of all samples. Encapsulation maintained the antioxidant activity of all samples and significantly improved the antiglycation and cellular antioxidant activities of some polyphenols following SD. In conclusion, the formed inclusion complexes of βCD with polyphenols had greater storage stability, without altering the beneficial cellular effects of the polyphenols.     

Short‐lived Phenoxyl Radicals Formed from Green‐Tea Polyphenols and Highly Reactive Oxygen Species: An Investigation by Time‐Resolved EPR Spectroscopy

Polyphenols are effective antioxidants and their behavior has been studied in depth. However, a structural characterization of the species formed immediately upon hydrogen‐atom transfer (HAT), a key reaction of oxidative stress, has not been achieved. The reaction of catechin and green‐tea polyphenols with highly reactive O‐centered H‐abstracting species was studied at the molecular level and in real time by using time‐resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. This mirrors the reaction of highly reactive oxygen species with polyphenols. The results show that all phenolic OH groups display essentially identical reactivity. Accordingly, there is no site specificity for HAT and initial antioxidative events are demonstrated to be largely ruled by statistical (entropic) factors.     

Isomeric differentiation of green tea catechins using gas-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange reactions in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer are used to differentiate galloylated catechin stereoisomers (catechin gallate and epicatechin gallate; gallocatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate) and the nongalloylated analogs (catechin and epicatechin, gallocatechin and epigallocatechin). Significant differences in the hydrogen/deuterium exchange behavior of the four pairs of deprotonated catechin stereoisomers are observed upon reaction with D(2)O. Interestingly, the nongalloylated catechins undergo H/D exchange to a much greater extent than the galloylated species, incorporating deuterium at both aromatic/allylic and active phenolic sites. Nongalloylated catechin isomers are virtually indistinguishable by their H/D exchange kinetics over a wide range of reaction times (0.05 to 10 s). Our experimental results are explained using high-level ab initio calculations to elucidate the subtle structural variations in the catechin stereoisomers that lead to their differing H/D exchange kinetics.     

Separation of catechins and methylxanthines in tea samples by capillary electrochromatography

In this paper, the simultaneous separation of several polyphenols such as (+)‐catechin, (–)‐epicatechin, (–)‐epigallocatechin, theophylline, caffeine in green and black teas by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was developed. Several experimental parameters such as stationary phase type, mobile phase composition, buffer and pH, inner diameter of the columns, sample injection, were evaluated to obtain the complete separation of the analysed compounds. Baseline resolution of the studied polyphenols was achieved within 30 min by using a capillary column (id 100 μm) packed with bidentate C₁₈ particles for 24.5 cm and a mobile phase composed of 5 mM ammonium acetate buffer pH 4 with H₂O/ACN (80:20, v/v). The applied voltage and the temperature were set at 30 kV and 20°C. Precision, detection and quantification limits, linearity, and accuracy were investigated. A good linearity (R² > 0.9992) was achieved over a concentration working range of 2–100 μg/mL for all the analytes. LOD and LOQ were 1 and 2 μg/mL, respectively, for all studied compounds. The CEC method was applied to the analysis of those polyphenols in green and black tea samples after an extraction procedure. Good recovery data from accuracy studies ranged between 90% and 112% for all analytes.     

The chain‐breaking antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds with different numbers of O‐H groups as determined during the oxidation of styrene

The technique based on monitoring oxygen consumption was applied to test 18 polyphenols (PP) and model phenolics as a chain‐breaking antioxidant during the oxidation of styrene initiated by 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylvaleronitril) at 37°C. The chain‐breaking capability of PP was characterized by two parameters: the rate constant k₁ for the reaction of antioxidants with the peroxy radical produced from styrene and the stoichiometric coefficient of inhibition, f, which shows how many kinetic chains are terminated by one molecule of PP. Rate constants k₁ × 10⁵ (in M^?1 s^?1) were found to be 10 (catechol), 27 (pyrogallol), 34 (3,6‐di‐tert‐Bu‐catechol), 4.3 (protocatechic acid), 12 (gallic acid), 15 (caffeic acid), <0.01 (chrysin), 1.3 (kaempferol), 19 (quercetin), 5.3 (baicalein), 16 (epicatechin), 32 (epigallocatechin), 9.0 (dihydroquercetin), 3.3 (resveratrol), and 16 (nordihydroguaiaretic acid). The value of k₁ increases when going from one to two and three adjacent O‐H groups in a benzene ring (catechol and pyrogallol derivatives, respectively). At the same time, two O‐H groups in metaposition in a A‐ring of flavonoids actually do not participate in the inhibition. For the majority of PP, f is near to 2 independent of the number of OH groups. The correlation of k₁ with the structure of PP and the O? H bond dissociation enthalpy has been discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 92–100, 2009     

Determination of green-tea catechins in cosmetic formulations and in in-vitro skin extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Summary A simple, rapid and reproducible method is presented for the analysis of green-tea extracts in different cosmetic formulations and in in-vitro skin extracts. Cosmetically active principal components were used for determination of complex assembled green-tea extracts. The catechins selected were catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate, because of their efficacy and their concentrations in green-tea extracts. The determination was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), on a reversed-phase (RP) column, coupled to a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) via an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. Detection was performed in the negative selected-ion-monitoring (SIM) mode. A detection limit between 5 and 15 ng g⁻¹ was achieved in methanol-water-ascorbic acid extracts from different emulsions. A routine analytical procedure could be established with good quantitative reliability. During validation, the repeatabilities (relative standard deviation) for catechin standard solutions were found to be 1.1–2.7% (within one day) and 2.2–4.3% (day-to-day). Recoveries from spiked placebos were 98–105%. The method was successfully used to determine the storage stability of green-tea extract in cosmetic formulations and the in-vitro penetration of green-tea extract into the skin.     

Polyquercetin/MWNT‐modified Electrode for the Determination of Natural Phenolic Antioxidants

Novel highly sensitive voltammetric method for the gallic acid, catechin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) quantification has been developed using glassy carbon electrode modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and polyquercetin (polyquercetin/MWNT/GCE). The effect of electropolymerization parameters (number of cycles, monomer concentration and polarization window) on the electrode characteristics has been evaluated. The electrode surface has been characterized with SEM, CV and EIS. The linear dynamic ranges of 0.50–10 and 10–750 μM for gallic acid, 0.10–10 and 10.0–250 μM for catechin and 0.050–10 and 10–100 μM for EGCG have been obtained in differential pulse mode with the detection limits of 0.10, 0.024 and 0.014 μM, respectively. The approach has been successfully applied for the tea antioxidant capacity evaluation (AOC). The positive correlations with antioxidant activity towards DPPH^• and total phenolics (r =0.7845 and 0.7658 at r _crit=0.4227, n =22) have been obtained.     

Rapid, direct determination of polyphenols in tea by reversed-phase column liquid chromatography.

Column liquid chromatography on a C18-bonded silica column with water-methanol-acetic acid as eluent was used to determine polyphenols and caffeine in tea. Without any pretreatment, catechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epicatechin and caffeine were separated successfully within 15 min. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of polyphenols studied were 1.8-24 mg/l at a detection wavelength 270 nm. The linear range of the peak area calibration curves for the analytes were over two orders of magnitude with a correlation coefficient of 0.996-0.999. Using this method, some Chinese tea samples were analyzed with a good reproducibility (RSD are below 5%).     

Application of amino‐based chitosan cyclodextrin derivatives for the extraction of catechins in green tea with high‐performance liquid chromatography

Chitosan derivatives have been studied widely, but poor solubility in water restricts their applications. In this study, four types of amine‐based chitosan derivatives were prepared and modified further with beta‐cyclodextrin. The sequential microextraction of catechins ((+)‐catechin and (?)‐epigallocatechin gallate) from green tea powder by an optimized solid‐phase extraction method using these four derivatives was investigated. The optimal conditions for the extraction of catechins were 60°C for a 40 min extraction period. The purity and amount of each catechin were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The different amines strengthened the extraction capacity of chitosan. Among the four types of amines, ethylene diamine grafted chitosan beta‐cyclodextrin had the highest extraction capacity to catechins. Therefore, this material was used in the extraction assay, and the standard curves of (+)‐catechin and (?)‐epigallocatechin gallate were linear over the concentration range, 0.25–500 µg/mL, after assaying five data points in duplicate. Solid‐phase extraction with the amino‐based chitosan beta‐cyclodextrin system is a new application of chitosan, which has potential applications in the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials or the removal of different impurities from specific extracts.     

Thermal stability, antioxidant activity, and photo-oxidation of natural polyphenols

The thermal stability (60°C, 80°C, 100°C), antioxidant activity, and ultraviolet C light (UV-C) stability of standard polyphenols solutions (catechin, gallic acid, and vanillic acid) and of vegetal extracts from spruce bark and grape seeds were investigated. Exposure of the standard solutions and vegetal extracts to high temperatures revealed that phenolic compounds were also relatively stable (degradations ranged from 15 % to 30 % after 4 h of exposure). The highest antioxidant activity was obtained for ascorbic acid and gallic acid followed by catechin and caffeic acid and the grape seeds. The results show that, after 3 h of UV-C exposure, approximately 40 % of vanillic acid, 50 % of gallic acid, and 83 % of catechin were removed. Similar degradation rates were observed for vegetal extracts, with the exception of the degradation of catechin (40 %) from grape seeds. In addition, the photo-oxidation of polyphenols in the presence of food constituents such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium chloride, and sodium nitrate was assessed.     

Influence of amphiphilic structures on the stability of polyphenols with different hydrophobicity

Autooxidation of five polyphenols representing range of different hydrophobicities(catechin gallate (CG),(-)catechin((-)C),epicatechin(EC),epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)and epigallocatechin(EGC)) in three different aqueous solutions:molecular solution,micellar solution(Tween-20)and liposomal dispersion(soybean lecithin)was monitored by HPLC.The rate of oxidation of the five polyphenols was higher at pH 4.5 than at pH 3.5.Compared with the control,addition of Tween-20(micellar structure)and lecithin(liposomal structure)significantly decreased the degradation of polyphenols.In the presence of lecithin the autooxidation of all the five polyphenols was slower than in the presence of Tween-20. The effective protection of the colloidal structures was compared with the hydrophobicity of the poly- phenols estimated from the partitioning between octanol and water.The protection from oxidation in the presence of the colloidal structures(micellar or liposomal)increased with increasing partitioning of a polyphenol towards the hydrophobic environment.The protecting effect of the colloidal structures was more effective at pH 4.5 than at pH 3.5.     

Identification and quantitation of polyphenols in leaves ofMyrtus communis L.

Summary A liquid-solid extraction and purification procedure (LSE) was developed to identify and quantify polyphenols in the leaf tissue ofMyrtus communis L. Identification and quantitation of individual compounds was performed using HPTLC, HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analysis. Leaves ofMyrtus communis L. contain small amounts of phenolic acids (caffeic, ellagic and gallic acids) and quercetin derivatives (quercetin 3-O-galactoside and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside), whereas catechin derivatives (epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate, epicatechin 3-O-gallate) and myricetin derivatives (myricetin 3-O-galactoside, myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside) are present in large amounts. This is the first report on the occurrence of galloyl-derivatives of catechin and gallo-catechin inMyrtus communis L. leaves.     

Determination of catechins and caffeine in proposed green tea standard reference materials by liquid chromatography-particle beam/electron ionization mass spectrometry (LC-PB/EIMS)

Presented here is the quantitative analysis of green tea NIST standard reference materials (SRMs) via liquid chromatography-particle beam/electron ionization mass spectrometry (LC-PB/EIMS). Three different NIST green tea standard reference materials (SRM 3254 Camellia sinesis Leaves, SRM 3255 C. sinesis Extract and SRM 3256 Green Tea-containing Oral Dosage Form) are characterized for the content of caffeine and a series of catechin species (gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)). The absolute limits of detection for caffeine and the catechin species were determined to be on the nanogram level. A reversed-phase chromatographic separation of the green tea reference materials was carried out on a commercial C₁₈ column using a gradient of water (containing 0.1% TFA) and 2:1 methanol:acetonitrile (containing 0.1%TFA) at 0.9 mL min⁻¹ and an analysis time of 50 min. Quantification of caffeine and the catechin species was carried out using the standard addition and internal standard methods, with the latter providing appreciable improvements in precision and recovery.     

Photoinduced hydrogen abstraction‐coupling reaction mechanism of Δ5‐steroids with substituted 1, 4‐benzoquinones via electron transfer pathways

The photochemical reaction between three A⁵‐steroids (1–3) and a series of substituted 1,4‐benzoquinones and their mechanistic study were reported. The reaction in nitrogen atmosphere led to the formation of three products including the steroid‐quinone coupling compound (A), 7‐hydroxy derivatives of Δ⁵‐steroids (B) and substituted 1, 4‐hydroquinone (C). Both chemical and spectrometric evidences such as UV‐Visible spectra, ESR, chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) verified that the title reaction underwent a predominant photoinduced electron transfer pathway via the triplet quinone.     

Mechanism of antioxidant capacity assays and the CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay

We report on the application of a simple and versatile antioxidant capacity assay for dietary polyphenols, vitamin C and vitamin E utilizing the copper(II)-neocuproine (Cu(II)-Nc) reagent as the chromogenic oxidant, which we term the CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) method. It involves mixing the antioxidant solution (directly or after acid hydrolysis) with solutions of CuCl₂, neocuproine, and ammonium acetate at pH 7, and measuring the absorbance at 450 nm after 30 min. Slowly reacting antioxidants required an incubation at 50 °C for 20 min for color development. The flavonoid glycosides were hydrolyzed to their corresponding aglycones by refluxing in 1.2 M HCl-containing 50% MeOH for fully exhibiting their antioxidant potencies. Certain compounds also needed incubation after acid hydrolysis for color development. The CUPRAC absorbances of mixture constituents were additive, indicating lack of chemical deviations from Beer’s law. The CUPRAC antioxidant capacities of a wide range of polyphenolics are reported in this work and compared to those found by ABTS/persulfate and Folin assays. The trolox-equivalent capacities of the antioxidants were linearly correlated (r = 0.8) to those found by ABTS but not to those of Folin. The highest antioxidant capacities in the CUPRAC method were observed for epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, fisetin, epigallocatechin, catechin, caffeic acid, epicatechin, gallic acid, rutin, and chlorogenic acid in this order, in accordance with theoretical expectations. The experiences of other CUPRAC users also are summarized. Correspondence: Reşat Apak, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, Avcilar, TR-34320 Istanbul, Turkey     

Separation of Phenols from the Leaves of Toona Sinensis (Meliaceae) by Capillary Electrophoresis

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) method, using UV detection, was developed for the determination of polyphenols in Toona sinensis (Meliaceae); the procedure involved precipitation of polyphenols from the leaves of T. sinensis using methanol. The structures can be established with fifteen compounds including methyl gallate, gallic acid, kaempferol, quercitin, quercitrin, rutin, kaempferol‐glucoside, catechin, epicatechin, stearic acid, palmitic acid, β‐sitosterol, stigmasterol, β‐sitosteryl‐glucoside, and stigmasteryl‐glucoside by spectroscopic analysis. However, there has been no investigation to quantitate the polyphenols that form T. sinensis. Thus, seven polyphenols of T. sinensis with UV absorbance, catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), methyl gallate (MG), rutin (R), gallic acid (G), quercitrin (Q), and kaempferol (K) were separated within 10 min with a 40 cm uncoated fused‐silica column, with the RSD < 3% (migration times), voltage at 15 kV using this method. On‐column detection was carried out at 254 nm. The detection limit of this method for all analytes ranged from 19.5 to 0.02 μM (RSD < 3.1%). The method provided a rapid and sensitive identification of polyphenols of interest in T. sinensis and is suitable for biological activity studies.     

Complexation of Apple Antioxidants: Chlorogenic Acid, Quercetin and Rutin by β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD)

The complexation and antioxidant activity of the major apple polyphenols: Chlorogenic Acid (CA), Rutin (Rt) and Quercetin (Qc) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were studied, by fluorescence spectroscopy and Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP) techniques. All polyphenols formed 1:1 stoichiometry complexes. Their stability constants decreased in the order Qc (1138 M⁻¹) > CA (465 M⁻¹) > Rt (224 M⁻¹). The complex formation was also confirmed in the solid state by DSC measurements. Qc showed the highest antioxidant activity, followed by Rt and CA. In all cases, the complexation process produced a slight increment in their antioxidant activity (between 7 and 14%), more evident for Rt and CA than for Qc. *Part of this paper was presented at the Food Science and Food Biotechnology in Developing Countries Conference, Durango, Mexico, June 2004.     

Quercetin (=2‐(3,4‐Dihydroxyphenyl)‐3,5,7‐trihydroxy‐4H‐1‐ benzopyran‐4‐one) Glycosides and Sulfates: Chemical Synthesis,Complexation, and Antioxidant Properties

Glycosides, acylated glycosides, and sulfates of quercetin (=3,3′,4′,5,7‐pentahydroxyflavone; 1 ), which is, together with its derivatives, among the most common polyphenols found in plants and in the human diet, were prepared and quantitatively investigated for their ability to bind metal ions (Al^III, Fe^II, Fe^III), enhance and vary natural colours (anthocyanin copigmentation), and trap potentially damaging radicals (antioxidant activity).