Reaction rate constants of superoxide scavenging by plant antioxidants

Plant phenols may exert protective effects by scavenging superoxide, which is implicated in tissue damage and accelerated inactivation of vasorelaxing nitric oxide. Preventing the interaction of superoxide with tissue biomolecules depends not only on the extent of superoxide scavenging but also on scavenging velocity. However, information on superoxide scavenging kinetics of plant phenols is scarce. We describe an improved lucigenin-based chemiluminescence assay for kinetic analysis. The use of potassium superoxide (KO₂) as a nonenzymatic superoxide source allowed simple and reliable determination of the second-order reaction rate constants between superoxide and plant antioxidants at physiologically relevant conditions, avoiding unspecific effects of other reactive oxygen species or superoxide-generating enzymes. We calculated the rate constants for phenols of different structures, ranging from 2.9 × 10³ mol⁻¹ l s⁻¹ for morin to 2.9 × 10⁷ mol⁻¹ l s⁻¹ for proanthocyanidins. Compounds with pyrogallol or catechol moieties were revealed as the most rapid superoxide scavengers, and the gallate moiety was found to be the minimal essential structure for maximal reaction rate constants with superoxide.