Rational discovery and development of a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant based on cinnamic acid scaffold

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Jose Teixeira (Author) Other; Pedro Soares (Author) Other; Sofia Benfeito (Author) Other; Alexandra Gaspar (Author) Other; Jorge Garrido (Author) Other; Michael P Murphy (Author) Other; Fernanda Borges (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Fluorescence

Vol. 46

ISSN: 1053-0509

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 34 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

CORDIS: Physical sciences > Chemistry > Applied chemistry > Pharmaceutical chemistry

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-AX5

Abstract (EN): A novel mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (TPP-OH) was synthesized by attaching the natural hydrophilic antioxidant caffeic acid to an aliphatic lipophilic carbon chain containing a triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation. This compound has similar antioxidant activity to caffeic acid as demonstrated by measurement of DPPH/ABTS radical quenching and redox potentials, but is significantly more hydrophobic than its precursor as indicated by the relative partition coefficients. The antioxidant activity of both compounds was intrinsic related to the ortho-catechol system, as the methoxylation of the phenolic functions, namely in TPP-OCH3 and dimethoxycinnamic acid, gave compounds with negligible antioxidant action. The incorporation of the lipophilic TPP cation to form TTP-OH and TPP-OCH3 allowed the cinnamic derivatives to accumulate within mitochondria in a process driven by the membrane potential. However, only TPP-OH was an effective antioxidant: TPP-OH protected cells against H2O2 and linoleic acid hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. As mitochondrial oxidative damage is associated with a number of clinical disorders, TPP-OH may be a useful lead that could be added to the family of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants that can decrease mitochondrial oxidative damage.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific