TY - JOUR

T1 - Radical chemistry of epigallocatechin gallate and its relevance to protein damage

AU - Hagerman, Ann E

AU - Dean, Roger T

AU - Davies, Michael Jonathan

PY - 2003/6/1

Y1 - 2003/6/1

N2 - The radical chemistry of the plant polyphenolics epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin (EGC) were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Radical species formed spontaneously in aqueous solutions at low pH without external oxidant and were spin stabilized with Zn(II). The spectra were assigned to the gallyl radical and the anion gallyl radical, with only 10% of the signal assigned to a radical from the galloyl ester. Spectral simulations were used to establish a pK(a) of 4.8 for the EGCG radical and a pK(a) of 4.4 for the EGC radical. The electrochemical redox potentials of EGCG and EGC varied from 1000 mV at pH 3 to 400 mV at pH 8. The polyphenolics did not produce hydroxyl radicals unless reduced metal ions such as iron(II) were added to the system. Zinc(II)-stabilized EGCG radicals were more effective protein-precipitating agents than unoxidized EGCG and produced irreversibly complexed protein. EGCG and other naturally occurring polyphenolics are effective radical scavengers but their radical products have the potential to damage biological molecules such as proteins.

AB - The radical chemistry of the plant polyphenolics epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin (EGC) were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Radical species formed spontaneously in aqueous solutions at low pH without external oxidant and were spin stabilized with Zn(II). The spectra were assigned to the gallyl radical and the anion gallyl radical, with only 10% of the signal assigned to a radical from the galloyl ester. Spectral simulations were used to establish a pK(a) of 4.8 for the EGCG radical and a pK(a) of 4.4 for the EGC radical. The electrochemical redox potentials of EGCG and EGC varied from 1000 mV at pH 3 to 400 mV at pH 8. The polyphenolics did not produce hydroxyl radicals unless reduced metal ions such as iron(II) were added to the system. Zinc(II)-stabilized EGCG radicals were more effective protein-precipitating agents than unoxidized EGCG and produced irreversibly complexed protein. EGCG and other naturally occurring polyphenolics are effective radical scavengers but their radical products have the potential to damage biological molecules such as proteins.

KW - Antioxidants

KW - Catechin

KW - Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy

KW - Free Radicals

KW - Hydrogen-Ion Concentration

KW - Oxidation-Reduction

KW - Serum Albumin, Bovine

KW - Zinc Acetate

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12745262

VL - 414

SP - 115

EP - 120

JO - Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry

JF - Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry

SN - 1089-8603

IS - 1

ER -