Antioxidant activity of aryltetralone lignans and derivatives from Virola sebifera (Aubl.)

Abstract

Aryltetralone lignans bearing methylenedioxy groups (1a–b; 2a–b) were isolated from seeds of Virola sebifera. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated by inhibition of lipid peroxidation as indicated by TBARS and chemiluminescence emission (CL) assays. The lignan 1c, 'having a 2′-hydroxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl group, was the most active compound with TBARS/CL Q _1/2 values of 0.89 and 0.10 µg/mL, respectively. The catechol derivatives 3 and 4, obtained by demethylenation of lignans 1a and 2a, were of similar activity to 1c, and all were much more effective as antioxidants than α-tocopherol.

Keywords:

• Virola sebifera
• Myristicaceae
• Antioxidant activity
• TBARS
• Chemiluminescence emission
• Aryltetralone lignans

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Brazil.