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Antioxidant Capacity of Gallic Acid in vitro Assayed on Human Erythrocytes

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Abstract

Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenol present in many plants. This study was aimed to investigate the molecular interaction of GA with the human erythrocyte membrane and to determine its antioxidant capacity. The molecular interaction with the membrane of human red cells and the antioxidant property was assayed on both human red cells and molecular models of its membrane. Observations by optical, scanning electron, and defocusing microscopy demonstrated that GA is capable to convert red cells from their normal biconcave shape to crenated echinocytes. This result indicates that GA molecules are positioned in the outer monolayer of the red cell membrane. Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) were selected as classes of phospholipids found in the outer and inner monolayers of the red cell membrane, respectively. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry showed that GA was preferentially bound to DMPC bilayers. Experiments related to the antioxidant capacity of GA indicated that this compound offsets HClO oxidative capacity on DMPE bilayers. In addition, optical, scanning, defocusing microscopy, and hemolysis assays confirmed the protective capacity of GA against HClO deleterious effects on human red cells. As a conclusion, GA would be capable to block the access of oxidants into the lipid bilayer, and thus avoid their access into red cells.

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Abbreviations

GA:

Gallic acid

DMPC:

Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

DMPE:

Dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

DM:

Defocusing microscopy

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

HClO:

Hypochlorous acid

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by FONDECYT (Projects 1130043 and 3140167). Calorimetric measurements were carried out using the instrument purchased, thanks to financial support of European Regional Development Fund (contract No. POIG.02.01.00-12-167/08, project Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology). The faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biotechnology of Jagiellonian University is a partner of the Leading National Research Center (KNOW) supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Mario Suwalsky & José Colina

  2. Center for Optics and Photonics, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    María José Gallardo & Benjamín Sepúlveda

  3. Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

    Malgorzata Jemiola-Rzeminska & Kazimierz Strzalka

  4. Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, A.A. 1226, Medellín, Colombia

    Marcela Manrique-Moreno

Authors
  1. Mario Suwalsky
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  2. José Colina
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  3. María José Gallardo
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  4. Malgorzata Jemiola-Rzeminska
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  5. Kazimierz Strzalka
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  7. Benjamín Sepúlveda
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Correspondence to Mario Suwalsky.

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Suwalsky, M., Colina, J., Gallardo, M.J. et al. Antioxidant Capacity of Gallic Acid in vitro Assayed on Human Erythrocytes. J Membrane Biol 249, 769–779 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-016-9924-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-016-9924-z

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