INTERACTION BETWEEN EUGENOL-RELATED COMPOUNDS AND RADICALS

The radical modulating activity of 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol (eug enol), 2-t-buryl-4-methoxy-phenol (BHA), and their dimers (bis-eugenol , bis-BHA) was investigated, using ESR spectroscopy. Eugenol produced radicals in alkaline solutions, and enhanced the radical intensity of both sodium-L-ascorbate and sodium 5, 6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate. BHA h as similar; but slightly lower activity, and their dimers were inactiv e. Their ability to scavenge the superoxide anion (O2-), generated by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase reaction, was in the order of eugeno l > bis-eugenol > BHA > bis-BHA. The relative radical intensity among these compounds was paralleled by their cytotoxic activity. The presen t study demonstrates that eugenol and BHA were very reactive with radi cals and their reactivity was considerably reduced by dimerization. Th e applicability of the dimerized eugenol in dentistry was discussed.