Gallic acid and its esters as anti - Helicobacter pylori agents and scavenger of oxidants produced by neutrophils

Author(s)

Vanessa Gonçalves Wolf

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
• Defense date: 2017-06-22
• Advisor: Valdecir Farias Ximenes; Luiz Marcos da Fonseca

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is one of major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, and although the mechanism involved in gastric inflammation by this bacterium is not fully understood, it is know the important role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), which are attracted and activated by infection agent, without, however, to be able to overcome the same, but which contribute strongly to the tissue damage and chronic inflammation. Therefore, it has increased the search for new strategies of treatment that can lead to the reduction of the oxidative stress generated at the infection site, with consequent reduction of the inflammatory process. In this sense, gallic acid, together with its esters (methyl, propyl, hexyl and octyl gallate), were used in this study, with the aim of evaluating their actions as inhibitors of ROS release by activated neutrophils, as well as their antimicrobial effects on H. pylori. Cell-free assays (suppressor effect on the DPPH radical and peroxyl radicals) were performed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of these substances, and the anti-EROs effect was evaluated using neutrophils isolated from human blood, stimulated by H. pylori, Zymosan or PMA, through luminol-dependent or lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescent assay, WST-1 assay, inhibition of HOCl production assay, and the NBT assay. Antimicrobial assay was performed by broth microdilution technique. The presence of the carbonic side chain led to a significant increase in the ability of the esters to inhibit the ROS production by activated neutrophils when compared to the precursor acid, especially hexyl and octyl gallates, which inhibited practically 100% of the superoxide anion radical production, as well as all ROS of the oxidative burst in general. Octyl and hexyl gallates were also shown to be the molecules with the highest antimicrobial activity on H. pylori, with a MIC value of 125 and 250 μg/mL, respectively, while the other substances had a MIC value higher than 1000 g/ml. The results show the great potential of the esters of gallic acid for their anti-H. pylori and anti-EROs activities, and furthermore demonstrate the importance of the presence of a lateral carbonic chain, giving greater hydrophobicity to the molecule, to obtain the maximum antimicrobial activity in vitro and the maximum antioxidant activity in an ex vivo model. Thus, esters of gallic acid are promising molecules in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, presenting antimicrobial action on the same, as well as reducing the oxidative stress generated at the site of infection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/21693-0 - Gallic acid and its esters as anti-Helicobacter pylori agents and scavenger of oxidants produced by neutrophils
• Grantee: Vanessa Gonçalves Wolf
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master