In diseases related to oxidative stress, accumulation of metal ions at the site of pathogenesis results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the reductive activation of oxygen molecules catalyzed by the metal ions. If these metals can be removed and the generated ROS can be strongly scavenged, such diseases can be prevented and treated. Planar catechins exhibit stronger radical scavenging activity than natural catechins and can efficiently scavenge hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction without showing pro-oxidant effects, even in the presence of iron ions. Hence, in the current study, we designed a compound in which diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), a metal chelator, was bound to a planar catechin with enhanced radical scavenging activity by immobilizing the steric structure of a natural catechin to be planar. This compound showed almost no radical scavenging activity due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding of DTPA with the planar catechins; however, when coordinated with Fe3+, it showed more potent radical scavenging activity than planar catechins. Owing to its potent antioxidant activity triggered by metal coordination and its inhibition of ROS generation by trapping metal ions, this compound might exert excellent preventive and therapeutic effects against oxidative stress-related diseases.
Keywords: Fe3+; antioxidant activity; catechin; diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.