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Degree

Master of Science, Miami University, Chemistry, 2007.

Abstract

Polyphenols are natural antioxidants found in foods such as berries, tea, and wine. Although polyphenols have been studied extensively in chemical systems, less is known about their activity in biological systems. I am especially interested in polymeric polyphenols, which have a high capacity for radical scavenging and may thus be good inhibitors of the inflammatory cascade. To test the hypothesis, a rabbit monocyte cell system was used. A superoxide burst was monitored using cytochrome c reduction or chemiluminescence. TNF-alpha production was assessed with an ELISA. It was found that a typical polymeric polyphenol, pentagalloyl glucose, was both a superoxide scavenger and a stimulator of TNF-alpha production. Studies of other polyphenolics and of polyphenol-protein complexes in the same system will allow development of structure-activity relationships for radical scavenging and cytokine stimulating activities noted for polymeric polyphenols. Identifying polymeric polyphenols that effectively scavenge radicals without stimulating cytokine production is essential to using polyphenols as anti-inflammatory agents.

Subject Headings

Chemistry, Biochemistry

Keywords

tannins; inflammation; antioxidants; pentagalloyl glucose

Advisor

Ann E Hagerman

Pages

86p.

Document number: miami1182258706
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1182258706

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