Antioxidant versus cytotoxic properties of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives - a new paradigm in phenolic research

Arch Pharm (Weinheim). 2008 Mar;341(3):164-73. doi: 10.1002/ardp.200700168.

Abstract

Trihydroxycinnamic derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The ester derivatives exhibited a higher radical-scavenging activity, when liposomes were used as target systems, a fact which may be related to their lipophilicity and conformational preferences. These compounds were found to display significant growth inhibition and cytotoxic effects towards a human cervix adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa). The partition coefficients presently obtained for the trihydroxycinnamic derivatives correlate well both with their structural characteristics and with their antioxidant/cytotoxic activities. A positive structure-activity-property relationship between cytotoxic and antioxidant activities, which is intrinsically related with physico-chemical and conformational properties, is anticipated, as a noteworthy study that must be done for phenolic systems. As damage events are frequently correlated with oxidative stress, the prevalence of both properties in a single compound could be beneficial in terms of rationale preventive or therapeutic purposes.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Coumaric Acids / chemical synthesis
  • Coumaric Acids / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Free Radical Scavengers / chemical synthesis
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
  • Free Radicals / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Liposomes
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coumaric Acids
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Free Radicals
  • Liposomes