Gallic esters of sucrose as efficient radical scavengers in lipid peroxidation

Three tests of increasing complexity were used to assess the antioxidant activity of five synthetic gallic esters of sucrose bearing 3, 6, 7, or 8 galloyl units. In addition, two of these compounds had 1 or 2 hydrocarbon (C10-C12) acyl chains. Reaction with the DPPH radical led to the evaluation of the number of radicals trapped per galloyl unit n (3-4), as well as the apparent second-order rate constant for H atom donation k (1200-1500/M/s). These results indicated similar contribution and reactivity of all the galloyl units. Inhibition of the AAPH-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid in a micellar medium confirmed the additive contribution of the galloyl units, whereas the presence of the hydrocarbon acyl chains had no influence, These results suggest an inhibition of initiation at high antioxidant levels and an underlying prooxidant effect of the galloyl radicals at low concentrations. Finally, LDL peroxidation was inhibited in proportion to the number of galloyl units, in agreement with the preceding tests.