Comparative study of the cytotoxicity induced by antioxidant epicatechin conjugates obtained from grape

We studied the cytotoxicity of epicatechin conjugates obtained by depolymerization of grape polymeric flavanols in the presence of cysteamine or cysteine and the resulting conjugates purified by ion exchange and/or reversed-phase high-resolution chromatography and compared it to their antioxidant capacity. The studies were carried out on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. The cytotoxic effects of these products were observed at concentrations 3-7-fold higher than the antioxidant concentration after exposure for 24, 48, and 72 h. The compounds with a gallate group were more toxic than the corresponding products without one. It is interesting to note that the esther ethyl derivative exhibited low cytotoxicity but had the most potent antioxidant activity. The results indicated that effective antioxidant activity can be obtained from these products in a concentration range that is safe for the normal cell. This finding suggests new pharmaceutical applications and may also help us to identify the potential therapeutic dose.