Tea-break with epigallocatechin gallate derivatives - Powerful polyphenols of great potential for medicine.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol present in green tea (Camellia sinensis), which has revealed anti-cancer effects toward a variety of cancer cells in vitro and protective potential against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Unfortunately, EGCG presents disappointing bioavailability after oral administration, primarily due to its chemical instability and poor absorption. Due to these limitations, EGCG is currently not used in medication, but only as a dietary supplement in the form of green tea extract. Therefore, it needs further modifications before being considered suitable for extensive medical applications. In this article, we review the scientific literature about EGCG derivatives focusing on their biological properties and potential medical applications. The most common chemical modifications of epigallocatechin gallate rely on introducing fatty acid chains or sugar molecules to its chemical structure to modify solubility. Another frequently employed procedure is based on blocking EGCG's hydroxyl groups with various substituents. Novel derivatives reveal interesting properties, of which, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antimicrobial, are especially important. It is worth noting that the most promising EGCG derivatives present higher stability and activity than base EGCG.

Zinc(II), Palladium(II), and Metal-Free Phthalocyanines Bearing Nipagin-Functionalized Substituents against Candida auris and Selected Multidrug-Resistant Microbes.

Due to the rapidly increasing problem of antibiotic resistance in recent years, the use of phthalocyanines as photosensitizers with their superior properties in photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (PACT) applications has become important. In this study, magnesium(II) 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octakis(4-[4-butoxycarbonylphenoxy]butyloxy)phthalocyanine was used in the demetalation reaction in trifluoroacetic acid, and subsequently subjected to metalation reaction in dimethylformamide with zinc(II) acetate and bis(benzonitrile)palladium(II) chloride towards zinc(II) and palladium(II) derivatives. Three phthalocyanines, including a demetalated one as well as two metalated, in the core with zinc(II) and palladium(II) were characterized using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In addition, all macrocycles were subjected to absorption and emission studies as well as photostability tests. In a photochemical study, zinc(II) and palladium(II) phthalocyanine complexes appeared to be efficient singlet oxygen generators. There were noted quantum yields of singlet oxygen generation for zinc(II) phthalocyanine derivative in DMF and DMSO at 0.55 and 0.72, whereas for palladium(II) complex at 0.73 and 0.77, respectively. Liposomal formulations of phthalocyanine derivatives were prepared, and their activity was evaluated against a broad spectrum of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli (ESBL+), Candida albicans resistant to fluconazole, C. auris, and against dermatophytes. Phthalocyanine palladium(II) complex showed the highest bactericidal activity against all antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, including reducing C. auris growth at 3.54 log.

Nipagin-Functionalized Porphyrazine and Phthalocyanine-Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization and Toxicity Study after Deposition on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles P25.

Aza-porphyrinoids exhibit distinct spectral properties in UV-Vis, and they are studied in applications such as photosensitizers in medicine and catalysts in technology. The use of appropriate peripheral substituents allows the modulation of their physicochemical properties. Phthalocyanine and sulfanyl porphyrazine octa-substituted with 4-(butoxycarbonyl)phenyloxy moieties were synthesized and characterized using UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopy, as well as mass spectrometry. A comparison of porphyrazine with phthalocyanine aza-porphyrinoids revealed that phthalocyanine macrocycle exhibits higher singlet oxygen generation quantum yields, reaching the value of 0.29 in DMF. After both macrocycles had been deposited on titanium dioxide nanoparticles P25, the cytotoxicities and photocytotoxicities of the prepared materials were studied using a Microtox® acute toxicity test. The highest cytotoxicity occurred after irradiation with a red light for the material composed of phthalocyanine deposited on titania nanoparticles.