Biological activity of ellagitannins: Effects as anti-oxidants, pro-oxidants and metal chelators. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moilanen, Johanna; Karonen, Maarit; Tähtinen, Petri; Jacquet, Rémi; Quideau, Stéphane; Salminen, Juha-Pekka
• Is Part Of: Phytochemistry. Volume 125(2016:May)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 72
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Anti-oxidation -- Deoxyribose assay -- Hydrolysable tannins -- Metal ion chelation -- Pro-oxidation -- Radical scavenging; Botanical chemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Chimie végétale -- Périodiques; 572.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.02.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9422

Abstract

Graphical abstract: The biological activity of 13 ellagitannins were determined using the deoxyribose assay. Most of the tested ellagitannins exhibited pro-oxidant activity and good metal ion chelating ability, but only low anti-oxidant capacity. Highlights: 13 ellagitannins were tested using the deoxyribose assay. Majority of the tested ellagitannins showed good metal ion chelating ability. Many ellagitannins exhibited pro-oxidant activity. The anti-oxidant activities of ellagitannins were only moderate to low. Abstract: Ellagitannins are a subclass of hydrolysable tannins that have been suggested to function as defensive compounds of plants against herbivores. However, it is known that the conditions in the digestive tracts of different herbivores are variable, so it seems reasonable to anticipate that the reactivities and modes of actions of these ingested defensive compounds would also be different. A previous study on a few ellagitannins has shown that these polyphenolic compounds are highly oxidizable at high pH and that their bioactivity can be attributed to certain structural features. Herein, the activities of 13 ellagitannins using the deoxyribose assay were measured. The results provided information about the anti-oxidant, pro-oxidant and metal chelating properties of ellagitannins. Surprisingly, many of the tested ellagitannins exhibited pro-oxidant activities even at neutral pH and only moderate to low radical scavenging activities, although the metal chelating capacities of all tested ellagitannins were relatively high.