Galloylated polyphenols efficiently reduce alpha-tocopherol radicals in a phospholipid model system composed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles.

The ability of several polyphenolic fractions from grape ( Vitis vinifera ) pomace, pine ( Pinus pinaster ) bark, and witch hazel ( Hammamelis virginiana ) bark to repair alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOH) through reduction of the alpha-tocopheroxyl radical was investigated in a homogeneous hexane system and a phospholipid-like system based on SDS micelles. These natural polyphenols were compared with pure related phenolics (epicatechin, gallic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, and rutin) and ascorbic acid, which is a substance with a well-recognized capacity for regenerating alpha-TOH. alpha-Tocopheroxyl radicals were monitored and quantified by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in the absence and presence of phenolics. Polyphenols from grape and pine bark were essentially catechin monomers and proanthocyanidins differing in the content of galloyl residues; those from pine bark had a negligible degree of galloylation. Polyphenolic fractions from witch hazel bark were composed of approximately 80% hydrolyzable tannins rich in galloyl moieties, together with a smaller amount of catechin monomers and proanthocyanidins. In the homogeneous hexane system, polyphenols from grape and pine bark exhibited similar activities, reducing the alpha-tocopheroxyl radicals by over 27-40%, whereas phenols from witch hazel were more highly effective, reducing 80% of alpha-TOH. In contrast, pine bark polyphenols were found to be significantly less active than the grape fractions in SDS micelles, reducing 30 and 70% of alpha-tocopheroxyl radicals, respectively. Polyphenolic fractions from witch hazel were also able to reduce the highest amount of alpha-TOH in SDS-micelles. The reducing capacity on alpha-tocopheroxyl radical of polyphenolic fractions was found to be pH-dependent and more effective at higher pH in the range of pH studied (5.8-7.8). These results stress the potential role of polyphenols, in particular those rich in galloyl groups, to maintain intact endogenous alpha-TOH in biological membranes through reduction of alpha-tocopheroxyl radicals.