Abstract
The factors responsible for the potent antioxidant activity of gallic acid (GA) are explored by employing density functional theory (DFT). It is found that the intrinsic characteristic features of the molecule play a significant role in its overall effectiveness as an antioxidant. The arrangement of the three hydroxyl groups with respect to each other imparts efficient antioxidant and antiradical property to GA. The external factors, such as polarity and pH of the reaction medium, also have a significant role to play. The polarity of the medium substantially affects the electron donating ability of GA, whereas the hydrogen atom donating ability is only marginally influenced. GA is a poor electron donor, but it can efficiently donate the hydrogen atom from its para hydroxyl group and effectively quench free radicals. It proves to be a better antiradical agent at the physiological pH, wherein it exists in the monoanionic form. Further, a comparison with other phenolic acids substantiates the importance of the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in the antiradical activity of GA.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sroka Z, Cisowski W (2003) Hydrogen peroxide scavenging, antioxidant and anti-radical activity of some phenolic acids. Food Chem Toxicol 41:753–758
Furuno K, Akasako T, Sugihara N (2002) The contribution of the pyrogallol moiety to the superoxide radical scavenging activity of flavonoids. Biol Pharm Bull 25:19–23
Karamać M, Kosińska A, Pegg RB (2005) Comparison of radical-scavenging activities for selected phenolic acids. Pol J Food Nutr Sci 14(55):165–170
Siquet C, Paiva-Martins F, Lima JLFC, Reis S, Borges F (2006) Antioxidant profile of dihydroxy- and trihydroxyphenolic acids-a structure–activity relationship study. Free Radic Res 40:433–442
Dwibedy P, Dey GR, Naik DB, Kishore K, Moorthy PN (1999) Pulse radiolysis studies on redox reactions of gallic acid: one electron oxidation of gallic acid by gallic acid-OH adduct. Phys Chem Chem Phys 1:1915–1918
Masaki H, Atsumi T, Sakurai H (1994) Hamameli tannin as a new potent active oxygen scavenger. Phytochemistry 37:337–343
Medina ME, Iuga C, Alvarez-Idaboy JR (2013) Antioxidant activity of propyl gallate in aqueous and lipid media: a theoretical study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 15:13137–13146
Ribeiro T, Motta A, Marcus P, Gaigeot MP, Lopez X, Costa D (2013) Formation of the OOH• radical at steps of the boehmite surface and its inhibition by gallic acid: a theoretical study including DFT-based dynamics. J Inorg Biochem 128:164–173
Sawa T, Nakao M, Akaike T, Ono K, Maeda H (1999) Alkylperoxyl radical scavenging activity of various flavonoids and other phenolic compounds: implications for the anti-tumor-promoter effect of vegetables. J Agric Food Chem 47:397–402
Schlesier K, Harwat M, Bohm V, Bitsch R (2002) Assessment of antioxidant activity by using different in vitro methods. Free Radic Res 36:177–187
Marino T, Galano A, Russo N (2014) Radical scavenging ability of gallic acid toward OH and OOH radicals. Reaction mechanism and rate constants from the density functional theory. J Phys Chem B 118:10380–10389
Sohi KK, Mittal N, Hundal MK, Khanduja KLJ (2003) Gallic acid, an antioxidant, exhibits antiapoptotic potential in normal human lymphocytes: a Bcl-2 independent mechanism. Nutr Sci Vitaminol 49:221–227
Badhani B, Sharma N, Kakkar R (2015) Gallic acid: a versatile antioxidant with promising therapeutic and industrial applications. RSC Adv 5:27540–27557
Wright JS, Johnson ER, DiLabio GA (2001) Predicting the activity of phenolic antioxidants: theoretical method, analysis of substituent effects, and application to major families of antioxidants. J Am Chem Soc 123:1173–1183
Leopoldini M, Marino T, Russo N, Toscano M (2004) Antioxidant properties of phenolic compounds: H-atom versus electron transfer mechanism. J Phys Chem A 108:4916–4922
Šolc R, Gerzabek MH, Lischka H, Tunega D (2014) Radical sites in humic acids: a theoretical study on protocatechuic and gallic acids. Comp Theor Chem 1032:42–49
Litwinienko G, Ingold KU (2007) Solvent effects on the rates and mechanisms of reaction of phenols with free radicals. Acc Chem Res 40:222–230
Meo FD, Lemaur V, Cornil J, Lazzaroni R, Duroux JL, Olivier Y, Trouillas P (2013) Free radical scavenging by natural polyphenols: atom versus electron transfer. J Phys Chem A 117:2082–2092
Nenadis N, Stavra K (2017) Effect of Cα−Cβ bond type on the radical scavenging activity of hydroxy stilbenes: theoretical insights in the gas and liquid phase. J Phys Chem A 121:2014–2021
Rajan VK, Muraleedharan KA (2017) Computational investigation on the structure, global parameters and antioxidant capacity of a polyphenol, gallic acid. Food Chem 220:93–99
van Wenum E, Jurczakowski R, Litwinienko G (2013) Media effects on the mechanism of antioxidant action of silybin and 2,3-dehydrosilybin: role of the enol group. J Org Chem 78:9102–9112
Foti MC (2007) Antioxidant properties of phenols. J Pharm Pharmacol 59:1673–1685
Foti MC, Amorati R (2009) Non-phenolic radical-trapping antioxidants. J Pharm Pharmacol 61:1435–1448
Leon-Carmona JR, Alvarez-Idaboy JR, Galano A (2012) On the peroxyl scavenging activity of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives: mechanisms, kinetics, and importance of the acid-base equilibrium. Phys Chem Chem Phys 14:12534–12543
Litwinienko G, Ingold KU (2004) Abnormal solvent effects on hydrogen atom abstraction. 2. Resolution of the curcumin antioxidant controversy. The role of sequential proton loss electron transfer. J Org Chem 69:5888–5896
Becke AD (1988) Density-functional exchange-energy approximation with correct asymptotic behaviour. Phys Rev A 38:3098–3100
Lee C, Yang W, Parr RG (1988) Development of the Colle-Salvetti correlation-energy formula into a functional of the electron density. Phys Rev B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 37:785–789
Vosko SH, Wilk L, Nusair M (1980) Accurate spin-dependent electron liquid correlation energies for local spin density calculations: a critical analysis. Can J Phys 58:1200–1211
Frisch MJ, Trucks GW, Schlegel HB, Scuseria GE, Robb MA, Cheeseman JR, Scalmani G, Barone V, Mennucci B, Petersson GA, Nakatsuji H, Caricato M, Li X, Hratchian HP, Izmaylov AF, Bloino J, Zheng G, Sonnenberg JL, Hada M, Ehara M, Toyota K, Fukuda R, Hasegawa J, Ishida M, Nakajima T, Honda Y, Kitao O, Nakai H, Vreven T, Montgomery JA Jr, Peralta JE, Ogliaro F, Bearpark M, Heyd JJ, Brothers E, Kudin KN, Staroverov VN, Kobayashi R, Normand J, Raghavachari K, Rendell A, Burant JC, Iyengar SS, Tomasi J, Cossi M, Rega N, Millam NJ, Klene M, Knox JE, Cross JB, Bakken V, Adamo C, Jaramillo J, Gomperts R, Stratmann RE, Yazyev O, Austin AJ, Cammi R, Pomelli C, Ochterski JW, Martin RL, Morokuma K, Zakrzewski VG, Voth GA, Salvador P, Dannenberg JJ, Dapprich S, Daniels AD, Farkas Ö, Foresman JB, Ortiz JV, Cioslowski J, Fox DJ (2009) Gaussian 09, Revision C.01. Gaussian Inc., Wallingford
Marenich AV, Cramer CJ, Truhlar DG (2009) Universal solvation model based on solute electron density and on a continuum model of the solvent defined by the bulk dielectric constant and atomic surface tensions. J Phys Chem B 113:6378–6396
Crispo JAG, Piché M, Ansell DR, Eibl JK, Tai IT, Kumar A, Ross GM, Tai TC (2010) Protective effects of methyl gallate on H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 393:773–778
He Q, Song N, Jia F, Xu H, Yu X, Xie J, Jiang H (2013) Role of α-synuclein aggregation and the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 pathway in iron-induced neurotoxicity. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 45:1019–1030
Ciencewicki J, Trivedi S, Kleeberger SR (2008) Oxidants and the pathogenesis of lung diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol 122:456–468
Droge W (2002) Free radicals in the physiological control of cell function. Physiol Rev 82:47–95
Nordberg J, Arner EJ (2001) Reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and the mammalian Thioredoxin system. Free Radic Biol Med 31:1287–1312
Valko M, Leibfritz D, Moncola J, Cronin MT, Mazura M, Telser J (2007) Review free radicals and antioxidants in normal physiological functions and human disease. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 39:44–84
Halliwell B, Gutteridge J (2007) Free radicals in biology and medicine. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Betteridge DJ (2000) What is oxidative stress? Metabolism 49:3–8
Catala A (2010) A synopsis of the process of lipid peroxidation since the discovery of essential fatty acids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 399:318–323
Salvador A, Sousa J, Pinto RE (2001) Hydroperoxyl, superoxide and pH gradients in the mitochondrial matrix: a theoretical assessment. Free Radic Biol Med 31:1208–1215
Halliwell B (1995) How to characterize an antioxidant: an update. Biochem Soc Symp 61:73–101
Cerruti PA (1985) Pro-oxidant states and tumor activation. Science 227:375–381
Manahan SE (2002) Toxicological chemistry and biochemistry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida
Fukumoto J, Fukumoto I, Parthasarathy PT, Cox R, Huynh B, Ramanathan GK, Venugopal RB, Allen-Gipson DS, Lockey RF, Kolliputi N (2013) NLRP3 deletion protects from hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 305:C182–C189
Stamler JS (1994) Redox signaling: Nitrosylation and related target interactions of nitric oxide. Cell 78:931–936
Halliwell B (1994) Free radicals and antioxidants: a personal view. Nutr Rev 52:253–265
Beckman JS, Koppenol WH (1996) Nitric oxide, superoxide, and peroxynitrite: the good, the bad, and ugly. Am J Phys 271:C1424–C1437
Koppenol WH, Butler J (1985) Energetics of interconversion reactions of oxyradicals. Adv Free Radic Biol Med 1:91–131
Smith JR, Kim JB, Lineberger WC (1997) High-resolution threshold photodetachment spectroscopy of OH¯. Phys Rev A 55:2036
Ramond TM, Blanksby SJ, Kato S, Bierbaum VM, Davico GE, Schwartz RL, Lineberger WC, Ellison GB (2002) Heat of formation of the hydroperoxyl radical HOO via negative ion studies. J Phys Chem A 106:9641–9647
Blanksby SJ, Ramond TM, Davico GE, Nimlos MR, Kato S, Bierbaum VM, Lineberger WC, Ellison GB, Okumura M (2001) Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy, gas-phase acidity, and thermochemistry of the peroxyl radicals CH3OO and CH3CH2OO. J Am Chem Soc 123:9585–9596
Chen ECM, Wentworth WE (1983) Determination of molecular electron affinities using the electron capture detector in the pulse sampling mode at steady state. J Phys Chem 87:45–49
Travers MJ, Cowles DC, Ellison GB (1989) Reinvestigation of the electron affinities of O2 and NO. Chem Phys Lett 164:449–455
Velarde L, Habteyes T, Grumbling ER, Pichugin K, Sanov A (2007) Solvent resonance effect on the anisotropy of NO-(N2O)n cluster anion photodetachment. J Chem Phys 127:084302–084306
Hughes MN (1999) Relationships between nitric oxide, nitroxyl ion, nitrosonium cation and peroxynitrite. Biochim Biophys Acta 1411:263–272
Domingo LR, Pérez P (2011) The Nucleophilicity N index in organic chemistry. Org Biomol Chem 9:7168–7175
Domingo LR, Pérez P (2013) Global and local reactivity indices for electrophilic/nucleophilic free radicals. Org Biomol Chem 11:4350–4358
Domingo LR, Chamorro E, Pérez P (2008) Understanding the reactivity of captodative ethylenes in polar cycloaddition reactions. A theoretical study. J Org Chem 73:4615–4624
Kakkar R, Bhandari M, Gaba R (2012) Tautomeric transformations and reactivity of alloxan. Comput Theor Chem 986:14–24
Maynard AT, Huang M, Rice WG, Covell DG (1998) Reactivity of the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein P7 zinc finger domains from the perspective of density-functional theory. Proc Natl Acad Sci 95:11578–11583
Parr RG, von Szentpály L, Liu S (1999) Electrophilicity index. J Am Chem Soc 121:1922–1924
Wu C, Hou X, Zheng Y, Li P, Lu D (2017) Electrophilicity and nucleophilicity of boryl radicals. J Org Chem 82:2898–2905
Nenadis N, Sigalas MPA (2008) DFT study on the radical scavenging activity of maritimetin and related aurones. J Phys Chem A 112:12196–12202
Badhani B, Kakkar R (2017) DFT study of structural and electronic properties of gallic acid and its anions in gas phase and in aqueous solution. Struct Chem. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11224-017-0958-3
Đorović J, Marković JMD, Stepanić V, Begović N, Amić D, Marković Z (2014) Influence of different free radicals on scavenging potency of gallic acid. J Mol Model 20:2345–2354
Filipović M, Marković Z, Đorović J, Marković JD, Lučić B, Amić D (2015) QSAR of the free radical scavenging potency of selected hydroxybenzoic acids and simple phenolics. C R Chimie 18:492–498
Giacomelli C, Miranda FDS, Gonçalves NS, Spinelli A (2004) Antioxidant activity of phenolic and related compounds: a density functional theory study on the O–H bond dissociation enthalpy. Redox Rep 9:263–269
Ji HF, Zhang HY, Shen L (2006) Proton dissociation is important to understanding structure–activity relationships of gallic acid antioxidants. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 16:4095–4098
Belcastro M, Marino T, Ruusso N, Toscano M (2006) Structural and electronic characterization of antioxidants from marine organisms. Theor Chem Accounts 115:361–369
Kakkar R, Bhandari M (2013) Theoretical investigation of the alloxan–dialuric acid redox cycle. Int J Quant Chem 113:2060–2069
Kelly CP, Cramer CJ, Truhlar DG (2006) Aqueous solvation free energies of ions and ion−water clusters based on an accurate value for the absolute aqueous solvation free energy of the proton. J Phys Chem B 110:16066–16081
Tissandier MD, Cowen KA, Feng WY, Gundlach E, Cohen MH, Earhart AD, Coe JV (1998) The proton's absolute aqueous enthalpy and Gibbs free energy of solvation from cluster-ion solvation data. J Phys Chem A 102:7787–7794
Merényi G, Lind J, Engman L (1994) One- and two-electron reduction potentials of peroxyl radicals and related species. J Chem Soc Perkin Trans 2:2551–2553
Balentine DA, Wiseman SA, Bouwens LCM (1997) The chemistry of tea flavonoids. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 37:693–704
Kortum G, Vogel W, Andrussow K (1961) Dissociation constants of organic acids in aqueous solution. Butterworth, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, London
Serjeant EP, Dempsey B (1979) Ionization constants of organic acids in aqueous solution. Pergamon, Oxford
Smith M, Martell E (1989) Critical stability constants, vol 6 (supplement section). Plenum Press, New York
Parr RG, Yang W (1984) Density functional approach to the frontier-electron theory of chemical reactivity. J Am Chem Soc 106:4049–4050
Acknowledgements
One of the authors (B.B.) thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, for Senior Research Fellowship. The authors thank Delhi University’s “Scheme to Strengthen Doctoral Research by Providing Funds to Faculty.”
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOCX 858 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Badhani, B., Kakkar, R. Influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the antiradical activity of Gallic acid: a theoretical study. Struct Chem 29, 359–373 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11224-017-1033-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11224-017-1033-9