Project information
Bioavailability and mechanism of antioxidant activity of phenolic acids and lignans

Recent epidemiological data support a protective effect of intake of vegetables and fruits against cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The protective effect is also attributed to antioxidant polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, found in the plants in the high amounts. Polyphenols show a strong antioxidant activity in vitro, but little is known about their bioavailability. The former purpose of this project is to determine the bioavailability and the mechanism of antioxidative effect of dicoffeoyl quinic acids and flavonoids present in the artichoke extract. The interest in dicaffeoylquinic acids has expanded rapidly in the last years due to their anti-HIV and HIV-integrase inhibition activity. The antioxidant activity of caffeoylquinic acids can be mediated by the potent antiradical activity and/or by forming chelates with ferric ions, that cannot produce reactive oxygen species. The letter purpose of this project is to discover the mechanism of antioxidative effect of dibenzocyclooctadiene lign