Synergic photoprotection of phenolic compounds present in tomato fruit cuticle: a spectroscopic investigation in solution

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2023 May 10;25(18):12791-12799. doi: 10.1039/d3cp00630a.

Abstract

Coumaric acids and flavonoids play pivotal roles in protecting plants against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. In this work, we focus our photoprotection studies on p-coumaric acid and the flavonoid naringenin chalcone. Photoprotection is well-understood in p-coumaric acid; in contrast, information surrounding photoprotection in naringenin chalcone is lacking. Additionally, and vitally, how these two species work in unison to provide photoprotection across the UV-B and UV-A is unknown. Herein, we employ transient absorption spectroscopy together with steady-state irradiation studies to unravel the photoprotection mechanism of a solution of p-coumaric acid and naringenin chalcone. We find that the excited state dynamics of p-coumaric acid are significantly altered in the presence of naringenin chalcone. This finding concurs with quenching of the p-coumaric acid fluorescence with increasing concentration of naringenin chalcone. We propose a Förster energy transfer mechanism is operative via the formation of dipole-dipole interactions between p-coumaric acid and naringenin chalcone. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration in plants of a synergic effect between two classes of phenolics to bypass the potentially damaging effects of UVR.

MeSH terms

  • Flavonoids / analysis
  • Flavonoids / chemistry
  • Fruit* / chemistry
  • Phenols
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Solanum lycopersicum*
  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • naringenin chalcone
  • p-coumaric acid
  • Flavonoids
  • Phenols