Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2002-07-05

The antioxidant activity of phloretin: the disclosure of a new antioxidant pharmacophore in flavonoids.

Bashir M Rezk, Guido R M M Haenen, Wim J F van der Vijgh, Aalt Bast

Index: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 295(1) , 9-13, (2002)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

Phloretin is a dihydrochalcone flavonoid that displays a potent antioxidant activity in peroxynitrite scavenging and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Comparison with structurally related compounds revealed that the antioxidant pharmacophore of phloretin is 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone. The potent activity of 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone is due to stabilisation of its radical via tautomerisation. The antioxidant pharmacophore in the dihydrochalcone phloretin, i.e., the 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone group, is different from the antioxidant pharmacophores previously reported in flavonoids.(c) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).