Influence of gallic acid and propylgallate on antioxidant defense systems and lipid peroxidation in mice

Feeding of gallic acid elevated the hepatic levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase, whereas NADPH-mediated microsomal lipid peroxidation was found to be unaltered. However, in lungs, besides a significant increase in reduced glutathione (GSH) and GPx, there was an inhibition of enzymatic lipid peroxidation in post-mitochondrial supernatant. On the other hand, propylgallate increased the hepatic GPx and GSH as well as inhibited hepatic microsomal and pulmonary lipid peroxidation. It seems that propylgallate is a better antioxidant than gallic acid since unlike gallic acid it protects both liver and lungs from the damaging action of the free radical-mediated process of lipid peroxidation.