Antioxidant and Biological Properties of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Quercus suber L.

TitleAntioxidant and Biological Properties of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Quercus suber L.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsFernandes, A., Fernandes I., Cruz L. Luís, Mateus N., Cabral M., & de Freitas V.
JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Volume57
Pagination11154-11160
Accession Number19888728
Keywordsantioxidants, Antioxidants: chemistry, Antioxidants: isolation & purification, Antioxidants: pharmacology, Antitumor activity, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation, Cell Proliferation: drug effects, Cork, Humans, Hydrolyzable Tannins, Hydrolyzable Tannins: chemistry, Hydrolyzable Tannins: isolation & purification, Hydrolyzable Tannins: pharmacology, phenolic compounds, Plant Extracts, Plant Extracts: chemistry, Plant Extracts: isolation & purification, Plant Extracts: pharmacology, Quercus, Quercus suber L., Quercus: chemistry, Tumor
Abstract

Phenolic compounds, namely, hydrolyzable tannins and low molecular weight phenolic compounds, were isolated and purified from Portuguese cork from Quercus suber L. Some of these compounds were studied to evaluate their antioxidant activity, including free-radical scavenging capacity (DPPH method) and reducing capacity (FRAP method). All compounds tested showed significant antioxidant activity, namely, antiradical and reducing properties. The antiradical capacity seemed to increase with the presence of galloyl groups. Regarding the reducing capacity, this structure-activity relationship was not so clear. These compounds were also studied to evaluate the growth inhibitory effect on the estrogen responsive human breast cancer cell line (ERþ) MCF-7 and two other colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29). Generally, all the compounds tested exhibited, after a continuous exposure during a 48 h period, a dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect. Relative inhibitory activity was primarily related to the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups (galloyl and HHDP moieties) found in the active structures, with more groups generally conferring increased effects, except for HHDP-di-galloyl-glucose. Mongolicain B showed a greater potential to inhibit the growth of the three cell lines tested, identical to the effect observed with castalagin. Since these compounds are structurally related with each other, this activity might be based within the C-glycosidic ellagitannin moiety.