Synthesis, antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluation of simple aromatic esters of ferulic acid (original) (raw)

A series of 2-arylbenzimidazole derivatives (3a-3p and 4a-4i) were synthesized and evaluated as potential antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. Their antioxidant properties were evaluated by various in vitro assays including hydroxyl radical (HO•) scavenging, superoxide radical anion (O 2 •-) scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. Results demonstrated that compounds with hydroxyl group at the 5-position of benzimidazole ring had a comparable or better antioxidant activity in comparison to standard antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). Markedly, compound 4h that showed the highest HO• scavenging activity (EC 50 = 46 μM) in vitro had a significant reduction of 2,2´-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride(AAPH)-induced intracellular oxidative stress and H 2 O 2-induced cell death. In addition, these compounds showed moderate to good inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus selectively at non-cytotoxic concentrations.