Our body is continuously being exposed to free radicals, causing oxidative stress to cells.  Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, thus preventing oxidative stress-mediated disorders.  However, antioxidants in the presence of transition metal ions may produce pro-oxidant effects and irreversibly damage biomolecules.  We herein report unique dendritic antioxidants, made of naturally occurring antioxidants, syringaldehyde and vanillin. The surface consists of phenolic hydroxyl groups and electron donating ring substituents and the interior is composed of metal chelating groups. Compared to the starting materials and other popular antioxidants like quercetin and vitamin E, these novel materials exhibited highly potent radical scavenging activities (IC50 < 5�M). The antioxidants also demonstrated strong protective effects on human low-density lipoprotein, lysozyme, and DNA. The novel antioxidants in the presence of physiological concentration of copper ions showed little or no DNA damage. On Chinese hamster ovary cells, cell viability at 50�M was unaffected over 5 days.

Potent dendritic antioxidants without pro-oxidant effects

244th National Meeting (2012)

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