Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
187419 Electrochimica Acta 2013 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

Electrochemical process of epicatechin, one of the flavonoids antioxidants, was studied here by cyclic voltammetry and semiempirical molecular orbital computation (MOPAC). Electrochemical oxidation of epicatechin showed a multistep mechanism with two anodic peaks being recognized at about +0.14 V and +0.52 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The first peak is strong concentration dependent, showing an adsorptive feature between 1 × 10−8 M and 2 × 10−7 M, a diffusion controlled feature between 2 × 10−7 M and 1 × 10−5 M, and a surface polymerization feature between 1 × 10−5 M and 1 × 10−3 M. Computation showed that the first electron was released at 4′-hydroxyl group in B-ring. No charge delocalization occurs between A- and B-rings. Higher pH medium favors oxidation. The oxidation rate is faster in strong acidic or basic medium and slower in a weak acidic medium. This research may help to explain the complexity of antioxidant activity of flavonoids and as a complement method to characterize the role of flavonoids antioxidants in treating oxidative stress diseases.

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Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering (General)
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